Chicagoland Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair

24-Hour Emergency Plumbers

Plumbing problems can be inconvenient. But frozen or burst pipes can be a real disaster if you don’t act fast. ABC Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, Cooling and Electric believes winter emergency services are critical to your safety.

If it’s not an emergency, we’ll work on your schedule. But emergency repairs get top priority. Call ABC at 888-868-6667 anytime to request emergency service for burst and frozen pipes.

Why Would My Pipes Burst?

Pipes don’t always burst during a big freeze, but for Northern Illinois, that’s usually the cause. When water freezes inside a pipe, the expanding ice pressure causes it to literally burst out of the pipe.

You can turn on your faucets for a slow drip to keep water flowing through very cold plumbing pipes. You can wrap basement and crawl space pipes with insulated heat tapes. But even when you do everything right, frozen pipes can happen.

Other causes of burst pipes include:

• Corrosion – Plumbing pipes should last decades. If you have an older property, corrosion can weaken pipes.
• Movement – If not properly secured, water pipes can move around inside your walls when you turn the water on and off. The movement weakens the pipe joints until one or more disconnect. The property damages can be extensive (and expensive).
• Water Pressure – Sudden increases or changes in water pressure can burst a pipe. Causes of water pressure surges can include:
  • Clogs – Fixtures and pipes develop sediment and mineral buildup over time, which can block the water flow and cause surges.
  • Cracked pipes – This usually happens in the winter and causes leaks.
  • Pressure regulator – This appliance controls the water flow; if it fails, you can have water pressure surges.
  • Water heater – Age or lack of regular maintenance can lead to water heater failures.
  • Water shutoff valve – An accidental bump can reduce water pressure quickly.
  • Water usage – Sudden demands in water consumption can stress water lines and cause surges/breaks.

If you notice a leak or sudden drop in water pressure, call 888-868-6667 or contact ABC Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, Cooling and Electric.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

In Chicagoland, in January, 32°F is about as warm as it gets. When your plumbing pipes’ surrounding air temperature drops to 32° or below, your pipes can freeze and burst.

Here are 10 tips to protect your pipes from freezing:

1. Add insulation to your attic, basement, and crawl space.
2. Check for areas where water supply lines are unprotected/unheated and insulate them using heat tape or other products approved for that use. You may want to consider relocating exposed pipes.
3. Close inside valves supplying water to outdoor hoses but keep the outside valves open.
4. Drain and store lawn hoses.
5. Drain swimming pool and lawn sprinkler water supply lines. Don’t put antifreeze in those lines unless the manufacturer recommends it. Antifreeze is dangerous to humans, pets, and our environment.
6. Keep garage doors closed.
7. Keep your home temperature consistent day and night. Lowering the temp at night can lead to water pipes’ freezing problems.
8. Never completely turn off the heat in your home. If you’re on vacation, set your thermostat to at least 55°F.
9. Open kitchen/bathroom cabinet doors. (Be sure to remove any harmful cleaners/chemicals if you have children or pets.)
10. Open up faucets to a slow drip.

Call the Experts at ABC to Fix Your Frozen Pipes

You may be able to thaw frozen pipes yourself. But it’s dangerous to try to repair frozen and burst water pipes or sewer lines. If you have frozen and burst water pipes, let’s put safety first and fix it right. Call 888-868-6667 or contact ABC Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, Cooling and Electric.