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EMERGENCY Content
Additional Information
TEXAS STATE OF EMERGENCY AND SAFE PLUMBING PROCEDURES
We hope you and your families are safe and staying warm during this unfortunate time. The State of Texas is currently declared a state of emergency, code red with shelter in place orders. (Presidential orders can be found here). https://www.whitehouse.gov/.../president-joseph-r-biden.../ Sign up for automatic updates.
Notice from Governor Greg Abbott. (Can be found here). https://gov.texas.gov/.../governor-abbott-issues-disaster...
We apologize for any inconvenience you may be experiencing at this time and hope to get them resolved as soon as possible. These are difficult times for all of us. Many, (including our employees & their families) have no heat, no power, no water and more. We will get through this and we will rebuild. For now it is important to stay level headed and do what we can to protect ourselves, family & neighbors, our homes and our businesses.
Please find some tips & pointers listed below for tankless, tank & general plumbing issues.
Any part of a house's entire plumbing system could freeze and break if left exposed to freezing temperatures and it is important to keep all faucets dripping at this time to aid in avoiding freezing. A tankless is no different. If you let it freeze, it will break. Same for a water heater, an emergency shut off valve or a faucet.
If you haven’t prepped the pipes for winter yet, you can still be ready for frozen plumbing headaches.
HOW TO THAW A DRAIN PIPE
Before you start unfreezing pipes, shut off the water supply to the section of plumbing you’re working on.
These three techniques are effective for thawing out most frozen drain pipes:
- Thaw pipes with a space heater or heat lamp positioned at least 3 feet away from flammable materials.
- Use a hair dryer to direct warm air up and down frozen pipe lengths.
- Wrap frozen pipe with an electric heat cable, and keep a close eye on the process.
These thawing strategies work on any plumbing that’s easy to reach including pipes in basements and crawl spaces.
HOW TO THAW FROZEN PIPES IN A WALL
Locate and turn off your home’s main water valve before trying to thaw frozen pipes inside a wall.
This kind of plumbing problem is harder to fix than frozen drain pipes because your options are limited:
- Turn up the furnace, and open closets and cabinets adjacent to frozen pipes.
- Position a fan heater to blow directly into wall vents located near frozen pipes.
- Cut a hole in the wall exposing pipes, and follow the techniques outlined in the previous paragraph.
HOW TO THAW EXPOSED PIPES
Exposed pipes in the basement and supply lines under sinks can usually be thawed in a few hours. If you’re thawing pipes under a sink, be sure to open the faucet so that melting water can escape.
Unfreeze pipes in the basement and under sinks using the same tips outlined in the previous paragraphs.
HOW TO THAW ENCLOSED PIPES
Knowing what to do when your pipes freeze doesn’t always make it easy. Most home plumbing systems stretch through spaces that are hard to access. You can’t always reach a frozen pipe by opening up a wall or working under the sink.
If you’re dealing with pipes frozen inside enclosed areas like crawl spaces, it’s best to call in restoration pros.
HOW TO THAW FROZEN PIPES OUTSIDE
When you’re deciding on how to thaw a frozen outdoor faucet or exterior pipes, stay safe. Heat tape and hair dryers both get the job done, but be careful using electrical equipment outdoors when it’s wet.
If you’re not comfortable with your options, wrap the pipe or open hose bib with towels. Heat up a tea kettle, and slowly pour hot water over the towel wraps.
It may take several tries, but this trick is safer than working with electricity while you’re standing in the snow.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR WATER PIPES BURST
All burst pipes need quick repair and cleanup, but there are different ways to take care of different locations.
Depending on where the pipe froze, these tips can make a hard job a little easier:
Burst Kitchen Pipe– Fix small leaks under sinks with fiberglass pipe tape, plumber’s putty or a hose clamp. A sleeve clamp kit works best on large pipe bursts in the kitchen.
Burst Pipe in the Bathroom– Frozen burst pipes in the bathroom are usually inside walls behind cabinets and fixtures. Turn off the water supply, and call restoration professionals who specialize in burst pipe repair.
Burst Pipe in the Garage – If frozen copper pipes in the garage spring leaks, temporarily patch them with duct tape or electrical tape. Permanent fixes include fiberglass tape and epoxy putty.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR PIPES TO UNFREEZE?
Fortunately, most DIY methods for unfreezing pipes can get the water flowing again in 30-40 minutes.
You might be tempted to wait for the pipes to thaw out by themselves. But keep in mind:
Depending on the weather, the process can take days. Pipes typically don’t freeze until the temperature dips to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. By then, the water becomes solid in pipes and exerts pressure that can measure 40,000 PSI.
Still, that time can vary depending on how long the pipes have been frozen and where they’re located.
WILL FROZEN PIPES THAW ON THEIR OWN?
The short answer is yes, but the longer they stay frozen, the more likely they are to burst. We’re often asked this question, so we include it here with our recommendation: Don’t wait for the pipes to thaw.
If you can’t get to them right away and you’re in the Chicagoland area, give us a call. We specialize in solving frozen burst pipe issues.
If you’re ready to tackle them on your own, these next steps outline everything you need to know about defrosting frozen pipes.
HOW TO PREVENT FROZEN PIPES
This time of year, most residents are thinking about how to deal with frozen water pipes — especially here in Chicago. You can’t always stop it from happening, but these tips can reduce the chances of pipes freezing and bursting inside your home or business.
1. Turn up the thermostat, and circulate warm air through every room by leaving interior doors open.
2. When temperatures plunge, let faucets drip to prevent hot and cold water pipes from freezing.
3. Move warm air through the kitchen and bathrooms by running fans and directing them toward open cabinet doors.
4. Keep cold air from seeping into walls by upgrading insulation and resealing window and door frames.
5. Disconnect and drain hoses, insulate outdoor pipes, and cover faucets before the first freeze hits.
WHEN TO CALL IN THE PROS
No matter how carefully you thaw out frozen plumbing, you run the risk of pipes cracking and leaking.
Even if you’re comfortable with DIY pipe repairs, be on the lookout for these signs of trouble:
- Low water pressure after pipes are thawed
- Damp ceiling, walls or floors
- Persistent noises in pipes when all faucets are off
If you notice anything that makes you uneasy or you’re just not sure about how to unfreeze pipes, Call, Text or email us.
Sometimes, it’s best to relax and let a trained professional do the hard work!
Hopefully these things will help during this natural disaster. We pray that you and your families are safe and warm.
Ardent Plumbing will resume services once the grid has been restored and the temperatures reach above freezing.
In case of an emergency please shut off all incoming water and call 911 as we too are limited in what we can do at this time.
For frozen tankless units:
Allow the tankless unit to thaw. This can be checked by partially opening the Water Supply Valve. If water flows, the tankless water heater has thawed. Carefully inspect the external pipes, internal components, and the plumbing for leaks. If everything looks good, you can OPEN the Gas and Water Valves completely and turn the Electrical Power ON
Navien units have an anti-freeze system installed and it works during normal weather conditions. Even with built-in freeze protection, there are times when you need to drain your tankless water heater. If you ever lose power your tankless will be left defenseless to the cold temperatures and could freeze. We highly recommend, particularly for cold climates, to drain your tankless system if you'll be away for an extended time.
Whether you're draining your tankless unit for cold weather conditions or another reason, if your tankless does or doesn't have the freeze protection solenoid valve kit installed, you'll need to manually drain the unit. Manually draining is not as easy, but it's just as effective at removing the water from inside the tankless heater.
Here's how to manually drain your tankless water heater.
Turn OFF the Cold Water Supply and turn OFF the Gas Supply.
Turn OFF the Temperature Control.
Disconnect the electrical power to the water heater.
We recommend opening a Hot Water Tap inside the house. This will help relieve the pressure in the heater.
Place a bucket under the water heater to catch the water.
Remove the Drain Caps on the Hot and Cold Isolation Valves.
OPEN the valves. The hot water is under pressure, so it may "shoot out" of the unit. Use caution, the water may be hot.
REMOVE the Cold Water Inlet Filter.
If your tankless water heater has drain plugs, you should remove them. They are located on the bottom of the tankless unit. (Water Drain Plug; Pump Drain Plug; Condensate Trap Drain Plug; and the Hot Water Drain Plug).
How To Return Your Tankless to Normal Operation
Once you're ready to start using your tankless water heater you'll need to return it to normal operation. This is a very easy procedure and basically the opposite of the draining procedure.
Here's what to do:
Double check that all of the drain plugs are removed from the unit, the hot water taps within the house are closed, and the gas supply is off.
Replace the Water Drain Plug, Pump Drain Plug, and Condensate Trap Drain Plug.
Replace the Check Valve Drain Plug.
Replace the Cold Water Inlet Filter.
OPEN the Cold Water Supply to allow the tankless unit to fill with water.
OPEN a Hot Water Tap inside the house to check that the water is flowing through the tankless properly. Then CLOSE the tap.
Turn ON the electrical power to the tankless heater.
Double check that the Temperature Controller is OFF.
Turn ON the gas supply.
Turn ON the Temperature Controller.
Check for leaks.
Tank style units: To keep your house from feeling like a winter wonderland, here are a few helpful troubleshooting tips for winterizing your Tank style water heater.
Drain the Water from Your Water Heater
There may be times you need to drain the water from your water heater, whether it’s because of a power outage or if you are going on an extended vacation. The last thing you want is to have your water heater rupture from the expansion of the water freezing.
When manually draining your water heater:
Turn off the cold water supply and gas supply.
Turn off the temperature control.
Disconnect the electrical power running to the water heater. (If equipped)
Place a bucket under the heater to catch all the water.
Remove the drain caps. (If installed)
Hook up a water hose.
Open the drain valve.