In areas of Georgia that experience sub-zero temperatures or experience extremely cold climate, one of the major household menace are the busted, frozen and leaking water lines. The water f lowing through these pipes often gets cooled down to its freezing point causing it to turn to ice. Call R.S. Andrews plumbing, a top rated Clayton County plumber serving residential and commercial clients in College Park, Forest Park, Jonesboro, Lake City, Lovejoy, Morrow, Riverdale and Hampton, GA.
If the pipe containing the water is full, this often results in cracks developing in the pipe. Pipes located outside the house on walls, pipes under the sink and pipes away from the fire place are most likely to freeze in winter causing leakages and water problems. These pipes have to be dealt with and this task has to be included in your ‘things to do before winter’ list.
The bursting of pipes during winter is based on the ‘Archimedes Principle’. The amount of volume occupied by water is less than the volume occupied by ice. The water in these pipes occupies a certain volume. When the pipe is full of water, the volume of the pipe is equal to the volume of the water. When the water starts to freeze, it expands in its process to turn into ice. At this stage, the pipe is not able to accommodate the water as it now occupies greater volume. This leads to the cracking of pipes. The cracks vary in size depending on the pressure exerted on the pipe by the water.
The pipes that have not burst but have frozen or have started freezing, have to be thawed. This is a process of getting the water to melt. The thawing process should be initiated at the first hint of freezing of pipes. One has to first shut the main supply of water and then take the necessary steps to avoid the water from freezing further. The infrared lamps are used to melt the ice or to thaw the pipe. If the pipe is in the house the room temperature is increased and adjusted accordingly.