Frozen Pipe
Repair Services
Don’t Let Frozen Pipes Ruin Your Day
Beware of the unexpected cold snap or deep freeze. Frozen water pipes are a serious risk during cold winter weather. Never hesitate to call Hoover Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for frozen pipe repair. When a pipe in your home freezes, you have no time to waste searching for a reliable licensed plumber. Our team of experienced plumbing technicians is available to provide same-day service. They’re also available 24/7 to help in emergencies such as burst pipes.
If you have frozen pipes in your home, contact us right away.
Frozen Pipes—A Winter Plumbing Emergency
When a pipe freezes, it can cause extensive damage. You’ll face a stressful situation without help from a local frozen pipe repair service. While waiting for a plumber during a cold spell can be challenging, a skilled professional minimizes the risk of the following issues:
- Water Damage: If a frozen pipe bursts, it can release a torrent of water into your home, damaging walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and structural elements.
- Mold: If the affected area isn’t dried out immediately, mold can grow and thrive, causing additional damage and potentially releasing harmful toxins.
Electrical Hazards: A shock, electrocution, short circuit, appliance failure, or house fire can occur if water from damaged pipes contacts electrical equipment or wiring. - No Water: Burst pipes prevent water from reaching fixtures and the main water line must be shut off. Therefore, you won’t have a water supply until the problem is fixed.
- Costly Repairs: Addressing a frozen pipe costs less than a burst pipe repair after freezing when you might need a pipe replacement, water cleanup, or flood restoration service.
Why Do Pipes Freeze?
Water freezes and expands at or below 32℉. Expanding ice has nowhere to go inside a pipe and can exert a pressure of over 2,000 pounds per square inch. This pressure is enough to rupture almost any pipe. The colder the temperature, the greater the risk of a pipe freezing. Depending on how cold it is, a frozen pipe can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to burst.
When the pipe bursts, it spills several hundred gallons of water per hour, which equates to thousands of dollars of damage to your home. The most vulnerable pipes include those in unconditioned areas like basements, attics, and crawl spaces or any location that’s unheated or poorly insulated. Exposed outdoor pipes are also vulnerable to freezing.
Warning Signs Your Pipes Are Frozen
- No water when you turn on the taps.
- Reduced water flow or low water pressure.
- Banging, gurgling, and other noises from your plumbing.
- Small leaks or water puddles near pipes.
- Condensation, frost, or ice on exposed pipes.
- Strange odors from your drains.
Why DIY Solutions Are Risky
Some homeowners try the DIY route by using open flames, candles, hair dryers, blow torches, and other improper methods to thaw frozen pipes. These increase the risk of damage that can cause pipes to burst. Therefore, addressing the problem yourself can do more harm than good. Professional plumbers use safe and effective techniques to identify the problem, minimize the risk of a flood, and thaw out and repair the affected pipe.
How a Professional Plumber Can Help
Generally, no household solution thaws frozen pipes safely. A licensed plumber has extensive knowledge and a wide range of tools to troubleshoot and resolve the problem. They have handled similar situations many times. Here are other reasons you can trust a plumber to fix frozen pipes in winter:
- Accurate Diagnosis: A plumber knows how to determine the location and severity of the problem. They use devices such as stethoscopes to listen to your plumbing or infrared cameras to detect hidden cold spots.
- Safe Thawing Methods: Using specialized equipment like pipe thawing machines reduces the risk of damage and needing expensive repairs. Some plumbers may also use infrared heating equipment.
- Prompt Service: Hoover’s team of plumbers can reach your home quickly to address the situation. This can prevent the frozen pipe from breaking or resolve a leak before it gets worse.
- Future Prevention Tips: If necessary, your local plumber can recommend insulating pipes and taking other protective measures during extreme cold.
How to Prevent Burst Pipes During Freezing Temperatures
If you take action before extreme weather, you can prevent frozen and burst pipes. Preventing pipes from freezing is easier than you might think.
To prevent frozen and burst pipes:
- Drain Water from Outdoor Plumbing Equipment: Drain pools, hoses, and water sprinklers before winter.
- Winterize Your Plumbing: Disconnect hoses and turn off outdoor water lines in the fall, before temperatures get too cool.
- Find Unprotected Water Pipes: Wrap outdoor or exposed pipes in protective sleeves, insulation, or heat tape.
- Keep the Heat On: Maintain a consistent indoor temperature so pipes in your home stay warm.
- Open Cabinet Doors: Allowing warm air to flow around exposed pipes can help prevent them from freezing.
However, if you think you may already have frozen pipes, call Hoover for frozen pipe repair.
Service Areas: Helping Homeowners Near You
At Hoover, we help homeowners with frozen pipes in Macomb, Wayne, and Oakland Counties. Our plumbing technicians are familiar with the challenges the region’s winter weather can bring. Prolonged cold snaps aren’t uncommon. Snowy and icy conditions only add to the potential for plumbing issues. Fortunately, you can trust Hoover’s dedicated team to reach your home quickly if you live in our service area, which includes:
- Troy
- Clinton Township
- Dearborn
- Auburn Hills
- Sterling Heights
- Clawson
- Bloomfield Hills
- Rochester
- St. Clair Shores
- Livonia
A Frozen Pipe Repair Service Is a Must
Frozen pipes are a risk to any Southern Michigan home in winter. They can threaten your water supply and lead to burst pipes and water damage. Fortunately, there are warning signs and many ways plumbers can help. Don’t attempt DIY solutions because they can cause major damage. Calling a professional can avoid serious problems and save you money. Our tips for preventing frozen pipes may also help.
Pipe Issues? No Problem!
Hoover is a full-service plumbing company, with the experience and knowledge needed to fix any issue. Since 1980, we have been helping residents in Clinton Township and surrounding areas with the plumbing services they need. Over time, we’ve established a reputation for quality workmanship and exceptional customer service. Our plumbers can help with frozen pipes and perform any repairs necessary. Contact us for same-day or 24/7 emergency service.
Buy Today, Pay Over Time
You don’t always have the choice to pay for a frozen pipe repair or replacement. Our financing options can help you get the services you need before a pipe fails, subject to approved credit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This is a sign the pipe leading to the faucet has frozen. Some liquid water may be left in the line. If the pipe is completely frozen, it may not produce any water at all. However, a damaged washer, O-ring, or valve seat; loose part; or sediment buildup can also cause a faucet to drip.
You should turn off your main water valve and then call a plumber. Avoid using DIY methods to thaw frozen pipes, such as applying direct heat to the pipe.
A burst pipe is most obvious if water is leaking from behind a wall or forming large puddles. However, it may also have visible cracks or bulges. More subtle signs include noisy pipes, odors from drains or faucets, or a drop in water pressure.
There’s nothing you can safely do after the fact, except call a plumber. Common DIY methods include applying heat with a hair dryer; this risks overheating the pipe. Wrapping the pipe in a soaked towel can accelerate the freezing process or add pressure to the line. These methods can also trigger too rapid a temperature change, which causes the pipe to burst.
The affected pipe can thaw if the ambient temperature rises above freezing. During a Michigan winter, this may not happen for some time. And, even when it starts getting warmer, a frozen pipe can take days or weeks to thaw out (while high pressure continues to damage it). Call a plumber if you think you have frozen pipes. They’ll provide an immediate solution.
Don’t Let Frozen Pipes Ruin Your Day
Beware the unexpected cold snap or deep freeze. Frozen water pipes are a serious risk during cold winter weather. Never hesitate to call Hoover Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for frozen pipe repair. Hoover offers repairs for all types of frozen pipe problems. When a frozen pipe problem occurs, you have no time to waste searching for a reliable licensed plumber to service your home. Our team of experienced plumbers is available to help with same-day service. No other company can compete with the level of service and convenience we provide.
Why Do Pipes Freeze in the Winter?
When water freezes in a pipe, it expands and can exert pressure measured at over 2,000 pounds per square inch. This pressure is enough to rupture almost any pipe when it is filled with water and has no place for the ice to expand. When the pipe bursts, it will spill several hundred gallons of water per hour, which equates to thousands of dollars of damage to your home. Frozen water pipe prevention, however, is easy.
Follow these steps to prevent frozen pipes:
- Drain water from outdoor pipe systems like pools, hoses, or water sprinklers.
- Check around your home for areas of unprotected water pipes.
- Wrap outdoor pipes in protective sleeves or insulation.
- If you do not have insulation or foam sleeves available, a crumpled newspaper can provide some protection from the elements.
- Keep the heat on in your home to help heat pipes located in the walls.
If you think you may already have frozen pipes, however, call Hoover for frozen pipe repair.
Pipe Issues? No Problem!
Hoover is a full-service plumbing and electrical company, with the experience and knowledge needed to fix any issue. Since 1980, we have been helping residents in Clinton Township and the surrounding areas with their plumbing and electrical issues. Over time, we have established a reputation for quality workmanship and exceptional customer service.
Buy Today, Pay Over Time
You don’t always have the choice to save up for a repair or replacement. Our financing options can help you get the services you need when you need them, subject to approved credit.