Sometimes Mother Nature can have a little more power

Unfortunately sometimes Mother Nature can have a little more power than we count on and those sudden cold snaps can do some serious damage to your home. If you think your pipes have frozen, you need to act quickly to get them unfrozen or risk having the pipe burst from the internal pressure. Once a pipe burst it can send hundreds of China Smc Mould Manufacturers gallons of water gushing into your home within just hours and if you’re not home to catch it the damage can be quite extensive.The first thing you will need to do is find the frozen pipe. If the pipe is an exposed pipe it will be easier to access and easier to defrost than a pipe that is behind a wall or in the ceiling. You may need to consider cutting a section of wall or ceiling away to access the frozen pipe if it is concealed.

Once you find the pipe you will need to check it for bulging or cracks. A pipe with cracks or beginning to bulge is near its breaking point and can burst at any time so you will need to do a few things quickly to avoid disaster. The first thing you will need to do before you do anything else is locate your main water shut off valve. You will need to be able to get to this quickly if your pipes burst before you can defrost them so it’s a good idea to have someone at the ready to shut off the water supply. The most highly recommend method to defrost your pipe is a hair dryer set to a high setting. Keep the air moving along the pipe working your way from the area of the main intake to the frozen area. Keep moving your hair dryer, being careful not to concentrate to long in any one area.

If the pipe is close to a wall you can try and put a metal cookie sheet behind the pipe to reflect the heat of the hair dryer back onto the pipe and make the make the job a little easier. You can also try wrapping hot wet rags to the pipe but don’t pour hot water over the pipes; the sudden thaw from pouring water over the pipes, can cause the pipe to burst. And of course as tempting as it may be to do so, don’t use an open flame to defrost the frozen pipe. Not only will an open flame work to quickly it is also a dangerous idea. Many homes have been burned and damaged from homeowners attempting to use a torch to melt their pipes only to lose control and cause a fire.However, for the ssaw steel pipe, the two are not the same.Pipe defects are rarely found in the base material, generally in the weld or heat affected zone, and defects in the weld or heat affected zone is most consistent with the trend of the weld, ie straight seam pipe defects axial direction, the spiral ramp of the defects.

A blow dryer or space heater may do the trick

When it’s bitter cold outside, the last thing you want to have to worry about is a frozen pipe.  This can create household damage, inconvenience and the breaking of the budget.  An ounce of China Smc Mould Manufacturers prevention is worth a pound of remedy, so read on to find out how to prevent this from happening in the first place and what steps to take if it does.Frozen Pipe Prevention Tips:-Keep the house at a comfortable temperature.  Even if you are gone during the day or on an out-of-town trip, during the frigid months, it is important to keep the heater on so that the house remains at 60 degrees.-Listen to the weather report so that you’ll be ready when those icy days arrive.-While on vacation, you’ll want to make certain that all windows and doors are left tightly sealed in order to keep the drafts out.

  Open cupboards so that the warm air can reach the pipes.-Insulating is a good idea.  Wrap thermal insulation around them in order to blanket and protect them from freezing weather.-Heat tape will provide another layer of protection, especially in extremely cold temps or in the case of plumbing that is exposed.-Disconnect outdoor hoses and turn the water off to outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems.  Make certain that they are emptied of water before winter sets in.If your prevention tips didn’t stop the problem from happening, here’s what to do next:-Open the frozen faucet in order to let the water come out in a safe and natural way as thawing begins.-Thaw the ice carefully and slowly. 

A blow dryer or space heater may do the trick.-Never use a blow torch as this may melt the metal, causing even more troubles for the plumbing system.  Flames can start a house fire which is far worse than a plumbing problem.-If you notice a leak, breakage has already occurred.  Turn off the water before a flood ensues.-Get towels ready to mop up, just in case.  A mop and bucket would be good ideas, as well.-Get a consultation from a licensed plumber.  The water distribution system may need to be re-routed or outdoor components may need to be relocated inside, underground or in the home’s crawl space.When this household problem occurs, it’s important to act calmly and quickly in order to keep the damage at a minimum.  Make a plan for the next drop in temperatures and remember that spring will soon arrive.