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Archive for January, 2018

5 signs your pipes are frozen

Frozen PipesLeave a comment

Toronto is no stranger to the annual deep freeze that blankets everything in a thick layer of snow and ice. With that comes a host of household problems and complications. One of the main challenges with the icy conditions is frozen water pipes – a problem that can cause havoc in a plumbing system.

Water that freezes inside water pipes expands, creating up to two thousand pounds of pressure per square inch of ice. Inevitably, this can cause pipes to rupture. A ruptured pipe can cause massive flooding, which in turn leads to property damage. Depending on where the pipe is located, it can flood your basement or other areas of the home. A single burst pipe can release hundreds of gallons of water every hour if it is not noticed quickly enough.

The water pipes that are most at risk of freezing are those in unheated parts of the home and exposed pipes, such as those running along outside walls, and those under the sink. Pipes in unheated rooms can also freeze. It’s important to read the fine print of your insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for damage caused by broken or frozen pipes. Of course, it is still important to take precautions to ensure your plumbing system is winterised to prevent the pipes from freezing. While the costs of burst pipes and flooding are significant, the inconvenience is another major hassle, even if the insurance pays for it.

Do you think you may have frozen pipes?

If your pipes are frozen you may notice the following symptoms. Some of them may resemble a standard clog in the drains, so if you’re unsure it is best to call out a plumbing professional.

No water

If the water is frozen inside your supply pipes or in the actual faucet, your water pressure may be affected or completely stopped in one or more faucets.

Unusual sounds

Bubbling, gurgling, banging, clanking and whistling are all noises to look out for as they may indicate frozen pipes.

Wetness or ice

If you can see exposed pipes, you may notice condensation on the outsides. The pipes may bulge as well. They do that right before they burst. If you notice wet rings on the ceiling, that’s usually an indication that a pipe has burst.

Odors

If your sewer drain is frozen, you may smell strong sewage odors.

At Anta Plumbing, we go on a big winterization drive before the big freeze hits every year. Proper winterization includes insulating your exposed pipes to help prevent frozen pipes. When the temperatures drop to freezing, it is important to keep air flowing in unheated rooms, such as the bathroom. You can do so by keeping the door to your bathroom or kitchen cabin under the sink open. Allowing to let the faucet drip ever so gently can keep water moving in the pipes and this can also help prevent it from freezing.

If a frozen pipe (or any pipe) in your home bursts, turn the water off at the main supply and call Anta Plumbing right away.

How to Unclog a Frozen Shower Drain

ShowerLeave a comment

Let’s be honest – few people enjoy winter. One of the many ways in which frigid weather affects your home’s plumbing system, is when your shower drain freezes. Of course, you probably won’t realize that your shower drain is frozen until you’re standing ankle deep in water.

Assess the frozen shower drain: Can you fix it yourself?

Thankfully, a frozen shower drain is not a big issue and unless you have multiple frozen pipes, you probably don’t need to call the professional plumbers. With a little bit of patience, and by following the instructions below, you can clear the clog without much hassle.

Thaw frozen shower drains as soon as possible

Ideally, you will want to thaw pipes as soon as you notice they are frozen. The longer they remain frozen, the more ice will pack on as water continues to flow into the pipe and reach the ice blockage. Water expands when it freezes, so the bigger the blockage, the higher the risk of the pipe bursting.

Risks of leaving a frozen shower drain unattended

A burst pipe will almost always result in costly repairs and potential damage to your property – not to mention the inconvenience of having to dig up your shower floor and breaking the walls to access the hidden pipes.

How to unthaw a frozen shower drain

Before you get started with the process, it is important to know what you should and shouldn’t do:

  • Avoid using harsh chemical drain cleaners, as they may cause chemical reactions that may lead to burns and even blindness if they shoot up through the pipe.
  • Never expose a frozen pipe to open flame. Homes have burned down when people used candles or blow torches to unthaw frozen shower drains.

Here’s what you will need:

  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • a medium sized pot
  • 2-3 gallons water
  • 1 cup of salt

Step 1: Unclog the drain

Start by pouring the baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain. A chemical reaction will take place, causing the mixture to bubble and fizz. The mixture will clean the pipe, and allow the grime to be flushed down the drain once the frozen clog has been cleared.

Let the mixture sit in the drain while you progress to step 2.

Step 2:  Boil salt water

Boil the water in a medium sized pot with a cup of salt, and pour it slowly into the drain. Salt is potent when it comes to melting ice and it will help the vinegar and baking soda to penetrate the buildup inside the pipe walls.

Step 3: Run hot water into the drain

Once the clog is clear, let hot water run into the drain for a few minutes to ensure that it is thawed and draining well.

To avoid frozen shower drains in future, consider allowing the hot tap to drip ever so lightly as soon as the temperatures dip below freezing. This this will keep water moving in the shower drain pipe.

Extreme Cold Safety Tips

Frozen PipesLeave a comment

During winter in Toronto, homeowners deal with two interesting elements, namely water, and below freezing temperatures. The cold season puts your plumbing system at risk. With more people spending time indoors, more strain is placed on the water supply pipes, water heaters and drains, and this can lead to failures within the system.

Every year, hundreds of households across Toronto fall victim to frozen pipes. Lucky homeowners only experience interruptions in water supply when their water pipes freeze. However, since water expands when it freezes, it can cause your pipes to rupture.

Did you know? A small eighth of an inch long crack in the water supply line can pour two hundred and fifty gallons of water into your home in a day.

Remember, when you have a frozen pipe, the entire length of the pipe does not freeze instantly. Water freezes at 32 degrees under controlled conditions. Some studies have shown that the temperature threshold in frozen pipes outdoors is actually approximately 20 degrees. Being prepared for winter’s frigid conditions is a good way to safeguard your plumbing from freezing nighttime temperatures.

Extreme Cold Safety Tips: What to do when the temperatures drop significantly

When the forecast predicts a sudden drop in temperatures below 32 degrees, take the following steps to protect your pipes and your home.


1. Disconnect any garden hoses that were left outside during winterization.


2. Use the indoor shut-off valves to your outdoor faucets to turn off the water supply and drain out every last drop.

3. Shut off the water to outdoor lines, such as those leading to a garden pond or swimming pool and drain the lines.


4. Follow the instructions of your home sprinkler system owner’s manual to winter-proof the system.


5. Open a hot faucet in the bathroom and in the kitchen to a slow drip.


6. If your ice maker water line runs under the home, turn the icemaker on.


7. Open the cabinet doors under the bathroom basin and kitchen sink.


8. Check on the pipes in the laundry room.


9. Locate your home’s main water shut off valve and keep a cut-off key handy.


10. Place a portable space heater in unheated rooms with exposed water pipes.

11. Shut any vents that admit cold outdoor air into crawl spaces in order to keep the living spaces warm.


12. Inspect your sump pump and test the backup battery supply.

13. Ensure that the sump pump outlet is not blocked by snow so as to prevent the flow from backing up back into the basement.

14. Avoid adding additional strain on your plumbing system by paying attention to what is flushed down the drains.

15. Leave more time between showers and baths in order to give the water heater more time to heat up. When lines are chilled, the hot water heater requires more energy and thus a longer recovery time to heat the full tank to the appropriate setting on the thermostat.

16. Run the dishwasher at a low-demand time, such as overnight to further reduce strain on the water heater.

17. You may consider increasing the temperature on the water heater thermostat, but avoid setting it above 125 degrees so as to prevent scalding.

7 Ways To Unfreeze Your Pipes Quickly

Frozen PipesLeave a comment

Frozen pipes are the bane of many Toronto homeowners’ existence. A small amount of ice can cause a pipeline to shut off, interrupting normal usage and it can burst, when the frozen water expands by approximately 9% in volume beyond the confines of the pipe. Pressure inside your pipes can increase from a mere forty pounds per square inch to as much as forty thousand pounds per square inch, which is much more than any pipe can hold. That’s when pipes break.

Frozen pipes don’t always break at the point where the ice is located, but it can burst wherever there is a weak spot on the line. This makes it difficult for a layperson to locate the break.

But even worse is when temperatures return to less extreme figures and the ice starts to thaw, pouring huge amounts of water into the home. Not only does this waste a precious resource, but it can also lead to major property damage as it pours on your floors, furniture and other belongings.

The best way to deal with freezing pipes, is to prevent it in the first place. Proper winterization goes a long way to keeping your plumbing in good working order. However, winterization is not always enough, as Toronto’s frigid temperatures continue to find ways to surprize us.

When your pipes are frozen, it is crucial to avoid using direct open flame on the pipes. Dangerous practices include using candles or blowtorches to try thaw frozen pipes and this often leads to injuries and house fires.

So what can be done when your pipes are frozen?

When you notice that the flow in your faucets is reduced to a trickle, it is one of the first signs that your pipes might be frozen. Ideally, you should take the following actions as soon as a cold snap is forecasted:


1.Close the garage door to keep heat from escaping from the house.


2.Open vulnerable faucets to a slow drip to keep water moving inside the pipes.


3.Open the cabinet or vanity doors under the sink so that warm air from inside the home can reach the pipes.


4.Turn up the home’s heat.


5.Use heating fans or space heaters to bring warm air into cold rooms.


6.Place heated towels on vulnerable pipes in crawl spaces or basements near exterior walls.


7.Apply heating tape to the exposed or vulnerable pipes.

If you have tried everything above, but your pipes are still frozen, you may want to consider calling in the professionals. A licensed plumber will be able to locate the problem area and use professional methods to quickly thaw your frozen pipe before it bursts.

If your pipes freeze during every cold snap, it may be time to find a more permanent solution. Options include insulating vulnerable pipes crawl spaces, and upgrading your outdoor faucets by replacing them with frost-proof models. In severe cases, you will probably save money by considering rerouting your pipes away from cold areas in your home. A master plumber from Anta Plumbing will be able to provide a professional assessment and recommend the best course of action for your specific needs.

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