TRAVERSE CITY — As temperatures dip below zero, plumbing companies across the region are seeing a surge in calls tied to frozen pipes.
At Roto-Rooter in Traverse City, field service manager Jack Jamieson said extreme cold like this puts homes at serious risk for costly repairs.
“Check for insulation on your pipes, make sure your heat tape’s plugged in if you have it,” said Jamieson. “If you have high risk areas like underneath the skirting of your home or in a crawl spaces, make sure you have heat tape and stop any drafts that are coming. Any kind of wind will accelerate the freezing process.”
Jamieson said even with proper insulation problems may arise.
“Even insulated lines start to freeze at about 20 degrees. If it starts getting really cold, like it is now, and you have a risk of freezing keeping a constant source of water trickling.”
While many people know letting faucets run will help prevent freezing, Jamieson said many people don’t let it run steady enough.
Your pipes require a consistent stream of water not to freeze, not just a small trickle.
But if pipes do freeze, time is critical.
“If you catch the freeze fast enough, you have a chance of not having any burst or damaged pipes,” said Jamieson.
A simple service call to thaw pipes can cost a few hundred dollars. But burst pipes can mean replacing large sections of plumbing and dealing with water damage.
Another surprising tip—snow can actually help.
“If you’re in a modular home, you can throw snow up against the skirting, that really helps trap the heat underneath it and keep it warm.”
Jamieson also cautions homeowners against using open flames or fuel-powered heaters to thaw pipes due to fire and carbon monoxide risks.