Quick — can you name some of the most common forms of property damage? We’ll give you a second.

Have your answer ready?

If you’re like most, your first thoughts probably included flooding, storms and even theft. However, what if we told you the real problem was coming from inside the house?

Introducing one of your biggest headaches as a homeowner: frozen pipes. At best, they can be an inconvenience, leaving you and your family without running water until the pipes thaw. At worst? You could be facing significant water damage and destructive flooding, with the average water pipe-related claim coming in at $27,000 according to Risk and Insurance.

The good news is that with a little proactive maintenance you can avoid the problem altogether. Bust out your toolkit, grab a flashlight and learn how to spot the signs of a frozen pipe as well as what you can do to prevent it in the future.

Are your water pipes frozen?

Let’s start from square one: How do you actually know if you’re dealing with a frozen pipe?

One of the few silver linings when it comes to frozen pipes are that the warning signs are pretty visible, no matter how much DIY experience you have:

• Lack of water: Did your morning go awry when you couldn’t fill your coffee pot or start your shower? If you’re having trouble getting water to run, a frozen pipe may just be the culprit.
• Bulging or icy pipes: This one can be more difficult to spot depending on where the pipe in question is. As water freezes, it expands, causing noticeable bulges and frost on the affected pipe.
• Gurgling sounds: No, there’s no monster living in your sink (trust us — we checked). If you start to hear banging or gurgling, it likely means there is ice traveling through your water system.

The winter months don’t just bring cozy sweaters and warm days by the fire. When the temperature drops, pipes can start to freeze in as little as six to eight hours. So, if you’ve noticed any of these telltale signs when the weather outside is frightful, chances are you have a frozen pipe on your hands.

Those who live in the South or anywhere where it rarely drops below freezing temperature are especially vulnerable when it comes to frozen pipes, something that was all too clearly illustrated following the record lows reported in Texas at the beginning of 2021. In an average year, Texans file about 75 reports of busted pipes due to the winter weather, as reported by local news outlet, KVUE. In 2021? Nearly 29,000 extensive property claims were made as a result of February’s historic cold snap.

Where a frozen pipe is a nuisance, a burst pipe quickly becomes a homeowner’s worst nightmare. When ice expands to the point where the pipes can no longer contain it, it can lead to hundreds of gallons of water being released throughout your house. And remember, just one inch of water can cause damages up to $25,000 according to the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

Good thing you won’t need to worry about all of that. Now that you know how to spot a frozen pipe, let’s fix it.

Water isn’t coming out of your faucet — now what?

OK: You know for a fact you’ve got a frozen pipe. How should you proceed?

Step one is to locate the frozen water pipe. Start by checking your exposed pipes, such as those under the sinks, in your basement or outside of your home. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to quickly spot the frozen section thanks to the telltale bulging and frost.

If your frozen pipe is in an area you can’t access, one option is to slowly raise your thermostat to allow the blockage to melt without bursting. However, if that’s not working, you may want to call a professional as the next step will be cutting out a section of drywall to gain access to the affected area.

Once you’ve located your frozen pipe, turn on both the hot and cold handles on the faucet the pipe feeds into. This will help relieve pressure and lower the chances of a burst.

Now, it’s time to turn the temperature up a notch. There are several options for thawing out an exposed pipe, including:

• Hot towel: Dip towels in boiling water and then carefully wrap them around the pipe.
  
  
• Hair dryer: Point the dryer directly at the frozen area and let it rip. However, be careful that the device never comes into contact with water.
  
  
• Heat lamp: If you have a heat lamp or portable space heater on hand, the indirect heat can help to gradually melt the blockage.

No matter which method you go with, always start from the top of the faucet and work your way toward the blockage. Starting behind the block itself could lead to water getting stuck behind your pipe, leaving you with a burst and a costly flood.

Although you can fix frozen pipes on your own, if you don’t feel comfortable or would like a second opinion, calling in a professional can never hurt. However, when it really comes down to it, the best way to prevent a burst pipe is to prevent them from ever freezing up in the first place.

How to keep pipes from freezing

While we can’t control the weather, what we can do is take some proactive steps to prevent frozen pipes.

As you head into the winter months, be sure to check around your home for any cracks in your walls or around utility service lines. These gaps can let cold air into your home and put your home’s pipes at a greater risk of freezing. Additionally, insulating around vents and light fixtures can help to keep warm air in your home and stop it from escaping through your attic or crawl space.

On especially cold nights, check the following off of your to-do list before you go to bed:

• Keep it cozy: Generally, experts agree that your house should never fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If ever you are spending the night away from home, be sure to leave the thermostat at or above 55 degrees.

• Allow faucets to drip: This may feel a little wasteful, but on the coldest days of winter leaving a very small drip can keep things moving and make it harder for cold water to cause freezing pipes.
  
  
• Protect exterior pipes: Bursts most often to exposed water pipes, such as your swimming pool and sprinkler supply lines. Drain all water from these before the cold weather sets in.
  
  
• Open cabinet doors: Keeping your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors ajar can allow warm air to circulate, lowering the chance for freezing pipes.

While you don’t need to go through these steps every night in the winter, we recommend keeping an eye on the weather for any extreme lows to decrease your chances of a freeze.

Owning a home with Bungalo®

There’s nothing worse than waking up and realizing you’ve got a frozen — or even worse — burst pipe. 

At Bungalo, we get that.

That’s why all of our homes come certified with a top-to-bottom inspection so that you can go into the winter knowing that your water system is ready to brave the elements. And, if you find something within three months of closing, you can rest assured that our 90-Day Post-Close Protection™ has got your back. Looking for more tips when it comes to navigating all of the challenges of homeownership? Check out our blog for some extra advice.