Frozen Pipes
We don't have many cold months here in Katy, but even in the Houston metro area there are days where temperatures drop below freezing and pipes wind up in trouble.
Did you know that your pipes may even be more vulnerable to freezing than they'd be in northern climates? That's because our local building codes have rarely required construction companies to install the proper insulation. But as the weather gets wackier, Katy residents are having to give more thought to providing some protection.
What are the signs of frozen pipes?
The biggest sign is you won't have running water so long as the pipes are frozen. Sometimes you might get a very thin stream of water, but you won't get enough to go about your daily business.
You may also see frost on your pipes, which is never a good sign. Finally, you might start detecting odd odors as the smells that would normally pass through to your sewer lines and down to the city lines end up trapped behind ice, instead.
Can pipes freeze without bursting?
Absolutely. That doesn't make risking it a particularly good idea. Besides, do you want to live with no water and strange smells throughout an entire cold snap?
What can be done about frozen pipes?
There are both some short term solutions and some long term solutions. In the short term we can drain your water lines and thaw your pipes for you safely. We can also go ahead and insulate them for you. We can help you prevent burst pipes, which happens once the pipes thaw.