Nobody in New Jersey is surprised when the cold winter comes around each year. However, winter does carry some surprises that can throw you for a loop, such as frozen pipes. So, what should I do to fix frozen pipes in NJ?

Run your faucets and let them trickle to reduce pressure if you discover frozen pipes. Next, heat your pipes with heat tape or a hair dryer to help melt the ice within them. You may need to open the walls to access your pipes, and it’s best to enlist professional help for that. 

You can prevent frozen pipes if you patch leaks and insulate your pipes to keep them warm during winter. Follow along as we explore what you should do to prevent and fix frozen pipes in New Jersey.

How to Fix Frozen Pipes

1. Run Your Faucets

It may seem counterintuitive, but running water can help fix frozen pipes. This is a quick way to alleviate some of the pressure within your frozen pipes. Pressure is the biggest problem with frozen pipes as it can make them burst.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to run your faucets on full blast. Instead, let them continually trickle to relieve pressure within your pipes. This can give you some time to use other methods to thaw your pipes.

2. Provide Access

In some cases, it may be difficult to reach your frozen pipes if they are behind a wall. This makes thawing the pipes more challenging. In that case, it helps to cut into the wall to access the frozen pipes. 

This is unnecessary if you can easily access most of the pipe. Only take this step if it’s necessary and you’re comfortable with opening the wall.

3. Heat the Pipe

Now, it’s time to heat the pipe to thaw the ice and relieve pressure. Ideally, you should let the faucets keep trickling to get the best results. Luckily, you can use household items like hair dryers to heat your frozen pipes.

Otherwise, you can use heat tape to thaw the ice in your pipes. Heat tape is easy to use as you simply wrap the pipes and leave it on. This is especially useful if your pipes aren’t insulated as that makes them more likely to freeze.

Work section by section if you use a hair dryer or heat gun as it takes a while to thaw the ice. Ideally, you should start at the end which is closest to your faucets and other plumbing fixtures. You may also want to use towels to dry the pipes and floor as the ice melts.

4. Enlist Professional Help

Your best bet is to enlist professional help if your pipes are frozen and you don’t know what to do. This is a great idea if you don’t have experience with frozen pipes. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to plumbing and HVAC problems.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes In NJ

The risk of frozen and bursting pipes isn’t worth taking. Water damage can cause thousands of dollars in repairs if your pipes burst. It only takes a few steps to prevent frozen pipes in New Jersey, such as:

Address Leaks

Pipes are prone to leaks, and that isn’t the end of the world. However, you should at least patch these leaks before winter arrives in New Jersey. Otherwise, it won’t take long for your pipes to freeze as they’re more vulnerable to cold air.

The average cost to fix pipe leaks is $500, but it varies based on the severity of the leak. For example, it can cost under $250 to patch minor leaks. That said, it isn’t worth trying to patch leaks without help if you’re inexperienced.

Run the Furnace

New Jersey homeowners are used to running the furnace during winter. However, some people want to save money and put on extra layers of clothes to save money. While that is wise, it won’t do much to stop your pipes from freezing.

You must at least run the furnace when the outdoor temperature reaches 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, it won’t take long for your pipes to freeze. Keep up with furnace maintenance to ensure your furnace runs well during winter.

Insulate Your Pipes

A poorly insulated pipe is a time bomb in any house in New Jersey. It typically takes 6 hours for pipes to freeze, but it may happen sooner if your pipes are poorly insulated or not insulated at all. Insulating pipes costs between $100 and $1,000.

However, it’s worth every penny compared to the cost of fixing water damage from burst pipes. You can expect to spend between $500 and $10,000 to repair water damage if your pipes burst.

Remove Hoses

Disconnecting exterior hoses is essential at the end of summer or the start of autumn. That’s because water stays in a hose even after you shut the water supply off. This water can eventually freeze and cause the pipes in the wall to freeze.

It may take a while for you to realize that you have frozen pipes in this case. Eventually, it will be too late, and pressure will accumulate within the plumbing in your house. You can avoid this problem altogether if you disconnect your hoses before freezing temperatures arrive.

Call Rich’s Heating and Cooling LLC This Winter

At Rich’s Heating and Cooling LLC, we know that winter can bring many problems for New Jersey homeowners. Whether it be a faulty furnace or frozen pipes, we are here to answer your calls and help as needed. Call Rich’s Heating and Cooling LLC at (732) 433-0068 if you discover frozen pipes at home.