Illinois Homeowners: What to Do If Your Pipes Freeze
It has been absolutely freezing the last few days in Illinois, and if you're like me, your house is starting to fight back. My gutters have been frozen solid with one giant chunk of ice clogging it so I've been trying to figure out how to even begin "defrosting" it. You're probably going through something similar right now.
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I've been Googling a thousand times a day these questions:
"How to unclog frozen gutters fasts"
"How to defrost pipes in my house"
What happens if my pipes explode"
"Who to call to unfreeze my pipes"
"How to know if my pipes are frozen"
Well, I got a bunch of answers that might work for you, so I figured I'd drop them here in case if helps at least one person.
Illinois Homeowners: What to Do If Your Pipes Freeze
If you turn on a faucet and only get a tiny trickle, you're most likely dealing with frozen pipes. First thing you should do: get to your master shut-off valve and cut the water flow. The alone prevents a burst pipe (and giant repair bill).
Thawing pipes can be done at home, but it has to be slow and careful. Heat tape, a hair dryer, and space heaters kept away from anything flammable can help. Just never use a blow torch, please.
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If you see any disconnected joints, cracks, or sections that look swollen, stop and call a plumber as soon as possible. Once everything is good, turn your water back on slowly! In my opinion, I'd call a plumber from the beginning. I know I'd mess something up if I tried to fix my frozen pipes myself.
Read more about how to prevent your pipes from bursting here!
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