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Take your time with frozen pipes

By Scott Rodgers

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 02Oct2009
Word count: 520
Viewed: 51 time(s)

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Just like there's no one kind of emergency plumbing situation, there is no one kind of frozen pipes situation. However, most of these situations involving freezing require a skilled professional approach to make sure that the damage is minimal and to ensure the safety of all in the building.

From the very first moment when the plumber steps on the scene to answer a frozen pipes call or incident, it's essential that he or she recognizes that this call will take time. Plumbers who are used to the quick fix at the turn of a wrench may be tempted to take matters in a dangerous direction. That's why it's important to pay attention to the unique qualities of a frozen pipes situation and bide time until everything has been fixed and everyone can go home safely. Good attention to specific frozen pipes situations make all of the difference in a crew's reputation and return business for professional plumbers.

For some situations where pipes may be frozen in a specific part of a house, it's as easy as introducing some warm air to the equation. Contractors can try opening doors and introducing some warmer air to the area around a water line. This approach can take a few minutes, but it's a good first step in addressing the problem.

There's also the option of running the warm water line until the colder line heats up a little. For corresponding hot and cold water lines, that's all well and good, but when it comes to an isolated line that may have no access to warm air or warm water, the situation may require more patience.

Oversight agencies have identified many incidents where professional plumbers attempted to use open flame to heat a pipe. Professionals should know that this is never a good idea. Introducing open flame to areas that may contain combustibles constitute a real and present threat, not just to the contractor, but to those living in a home. Property damage can also be enormous when an open flame ignites the wrong materials within a property.

The correct tools for the job include solutions like rag heated with hot water, a conventional hairdryer, were moderate heat packs that can be applied to pipes. The larger the pipe, the longer it will take to unfreeze the line and get water running through it. Superheating solutions can always pose a danger and should be used sparingly, with all due attention to the amount of heat being placed into the pipe area. When water in the pipe is overheated, it may cause a dangerous pressure situation, in which steam can cause injury.

For crew leaders, these same tips apply to the supervision that they give to younger workers. Don't assume that everyone on a crew will follow these general rules, but instead, constantly monitor any work that is being done in your name to avoid costly liabilities.

When it comes to heating up water in frozen pipes, it's just a matter of time. Remind inpatient homeowners that correct work takes time, and make sure they know that spring is right around the corner.

Scott Rodgers is a plumber who has recently begun writing articles for both a plumbing and non-plumbing audience. To view more of plumbing articles, visit http://eLocalPlumbers.com

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