Do I Need To Call a Plumber If My Pipes Are Frozen in My Willoughby, OH, Home?

Call Formica Plumbing and Sewer Co. at 440-709-8495 for your plumbing pipe issues in Willoughby, OH.

The gleaming snow, the warmth of heated blankets, and the allure of sipping hot tea and eating marshmallows by a firepit all make winter more bearable. However, there’s no escaping the fact that the season is one of the most challenging for everyone in Willoughby, OH, for various reasons.

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Pipe freezing is one of the challenges that come with the frigid weather. Many homeowners find themselves asking, "Can a plumber fix frozen pipes?“, "Do I need to call a plumber if my pipes are frozen?”

Formica Plumbing and Sewer Co., the best plumber in Willoughby, Ohio, covers the details you need to know in this post. 

Why Do Pipes Freeze in Winter Here in Willoughby, OH?

Some of the reasons pipes freeze in winter here in Willoughby, OH, include the following:

Temperature Dips

Water freezes at 32 degrees. Winter lows here generally hover around 20 degrees and can occasionally dip even lower. Thus, there’s a high chance that any pipes with water inside will freeze.

Exposure in Unheated Spaces

Most homeowners in the area have pipes running through their attic, crawl space, and basement. The heating from fireplaces and furnaces often does not extend to these areas so they will likely freeze when temperatures drop too low.

Inadequate Insulation

Quality insulation can reduce the impact of the frigid conditions across your property. Unfortunately, many homeowners have inadequate insulation in unheated spaces such as attics and crawl spaces. The result is frozen pipes.

What Should I Do About Frozen Pipes?

You have three options when it comes to dealing with frozen pipes. First, you can wait it out. When the pipe thaws, you can get back to using your plumbing system like before. Secondly, you can try thawing the pipes manually, using some heat. Ultimately, you can call a plumber.

Waiting for the pipes to thaw may sound like the logical thing to do. However, it increases the risk of the pipe bursting, especially if bad plumbing has left many of your core pipes exposed. You may have to wait hours or even days for the pipes to thaw naturally.

Thawing the pipes manually can provide faster relief. You only need to increase your heating to get them warmer or use a space heater around them. If you do this correctly, you can unfreeze your pipes in less than half an hour.

However, the real challenge is completing the manual thawing without damaging the pipework. You have to be careful to avoid using too much heat. Also, you should never use an open flame to thaw your pipes or leave the space heater unattended as you could end up accidentally starting a fire.

When Should You Call a Plumber?

If you’re asking, “Do I need to call a plumber if my pipes are frozen?” you’ve probably tried all the DIY approaches we touched on above without any results.

The truth is, your space heater will likely struggle to unfreeze your pipes based on the winters we’ve experienced here in Willoughby, OH, in recent years. If you feel like calling a plumber, you should.

It’s also a good idea to call a plumber if:

• You can’t find the freeze location. It’s not always easy to find the location of a pipe freeze. This is especially true for pipes behind walls. If you can’t find the location of the freeze, you’re better off calling a plumber right away to avoid wasting your time or causing damage.
• You are not confident in your DIY skills. DIY plumbing is not for everyone. If you don’t feel like taking on the project, don’t let a video on social media trick you into starting what you can’t finish! You’re better off relaxing and handing over the problem to a qualified plumber.
• You can see cracks in the frozen segment. If your pipes have already cracked, there’s nothing else you can do other than call a plumber quickly. If the pipe thaws with the crack still there, you may end up with significant water damage, depending on the pipe’s role in your plumbing system.

How to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing in Willoughby’s Coldest Weeks of the Year

When it comes to winter pipe freezing, prevention is key. Here are a few things you can do to protect your pipes.

• Insulate them. Wrapping any exposed pipes with insulation material or heating tape will keep the temperatures inside above freezing until the frost passes.
• Don’t turn off the heating. If you are headed for warm-weather climes during the winter, be sure to keep your heating running at around 55 degrees to protect your pipes.
• Keep cabinets open. Opening up the cabinets will allow some of the conditioned air to get to the pipes under your sinks, keeping them warm.
• Keep faucets open. The pipe is unlikely to freeze if there’s not enough water trapped inside.
• Insulate your attic or crawl space. Poor insulation is the major cause of frozen pipes. Call in an expert to evaluate these unheated spaces to improve your insulation if necessary.
• Seal up cracks in exterior walls. Cracks often exist around the entrance of service lines such as TV and internet cables. Use caulking to seal every gap you can find. Don’t forget to check around windows and doors.

Get Expert Help with Your Frozen or Burst Pipes in Willoughby, OH, Today

If you find yourself asking, “Do I need to call a plumber if my pipes are frozen?” you most likely do. The team at Formica Plumbing and Sewer Co. offers a comprehensive service even during this season.

We can help thaw your pipes with heavy-duty equipment, repair any damage, and get the infrastructure working as well as it should again. We also have extensive experience replacing water pipes that are beyond repairs.

Call Formica Plumbing and Sewer Co. in Willoughby, OH, today at 440-709-8495 to book an appointment.