How to Thaw Frozen Water Pipes in Your Southern New Hampshire Home

Frozen pipes are a serious concern in the bitterly cold winter weather, particularly if your home is left vacant for any length of time (Take note, all you snowbirds out there who go to Florida or other warm climates for winter!).  When a pipe bursts in your Southern New Hampshire home, it spills several hundred gallons of water per hour, which can equate to thousands of dollars of damage to your home.

If you wound up with frozen pipes this winter (and both copper & pvc pipes can freeze), here are some tips to thaw frozen pipes in your Southern New Hampshire home:

     1. Prevent potential flooding.  To prevent flooding, you may want to shut off the main water supply.  If the pipe bursts before it’s thawed, you definitely want to immediately shut off the main water supply.
  
     2. Check for damage.  Check for holes, cracks or breaks along the pipe.  If there is no damage and the pipe is simply frozen, immediately thaw the frozen pipe using tips from #4 below.  If there is damage…

     3. Repair the damage.  Repair methods depend on the damage:

         a. Repair a pinhole.  A pinhole can be repaired by wrapping the pipe with electrical or duct tape.
         b. Repair a hairline crack.  Cover a hairline crack with a pipe clamp.
         c. Repair larger cracks.  You may need to replace that section of pipe, or have a plumber replace it.      But, first, you can try repairing the pipe with a patch kit.

     4. Thaw the pipe.  If you've been able to repair the pipe without replacing it, or the pipe was not damaged, it’s time to thaw the pipe.  Thaw it by applying heat to the frozen section. Always heat the pipe from the faucet toward the frozen area. Never use a torch. Instead use a hairdryer or heat gun on a low setting. You can also place a heat lamp or small electric heater near the pipe or wrap the pipe in heat tape or an electric blanket.  You can even wrap the pipe in towels and pour hot water over them. 

Safety Alerts!
    * When using a hairdryer, heat gun, heat lamp or electric heater, please be aware of wet floors and the potential danger of electric shock. Check the area. If you find potentially dangerous electrocution hazards or extensive damage to pipes, call a plumber for assistance.
    * Never use a flame torch because of the fire hazard it creates. Open flame torches are the most common cause of pipe thawing related home fires.

     5. Insulate pipes. Once you're sure your pipes are damage free and thawed, insulate your pipes, don't set your heat lower than 55 degrees and if you're away, have someone check up on your home daily when the outside temperatures are below freezing or fully winterize your home before you leave.

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Southern NH Homes 101: Fall Maintenance Checklist

Leaves are changing color, nights are getting cooler and pumpkins are appearing on porches of Southern New Hampshire homes.  All signs that fall is here.

That means it’s time to do fall preventative maintenance on all Southern NH homes.  To help you get started, here’s a quick checklist: 

●    Have a professional heating contractor inspect your Southern New Hampshire home’s heating system.  An annual furnace inspection ensures that your heating system is operating at peak efficiency and most importantly that it is running safely.

●    Replace your furnace filter.  Furnace filters need to be replaced frequently to allow your heating system to operate properly.

●    Hire a certified chimney sweep.  Have him inspect your wood burning stove or fireplace and clean the chimney.

●    Check your home for water damage.  Look for water stains on the ceilings or leaks under the bathroom and kitchen sinks.  This minor water damage may seem trivial, but can lead to real problems, like a weakened roof or rotten boards.

●    Prepare your pipes.  Every year, approximately a quarter-million families have their homes ruined due to water pipes that freeze and burst.  Prepare your pipes, both inside and outside, before the cold weather hits.  Caulk around pipes where they enter your Southern NH home.  Insulate pipes in unheated areas.  If you have a separate valve for outside faucets, shut it off.  If you don't have a separate valve to turn off outside faucets, wrap outside faucets or hose bibs.

●    Tend your garden tools and equipment.  Run all lawn equipment until the gas is gone.  This removes flammable liquid from your garage.  Drain water from garden hoses and sprinklers.  Clean shovels, hoes, trowels and spades.

●    Inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.  Replace batteries and clean the alarms if needed.

●    Examine caulking.  To prevent water from seeping into the sub-floor, inspect and repair the caulking around your bathroom fixtures.  To reduce heat loss, inspect and repair the caulking around doors, windows and outlets.

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10 Must Have Tools for Southern New Hampshire Real Estate Repairs

You can do many simple repairs around your home to save money. Whether you are making repairs around your Southern New Hampshire real estate to prepare it for sale or repairing items after buying a home, having the right tools for the job makes everything much easier.

Here are my top 10 must have tools to complete most Southern NH real estate repairs:

1.    Cordless drill. A cordless drill gives you a quick way to put screws in walls, put together furniture or to remove screws effortlessly.

2.    Hammer. You should have a medium weight hammer on hand for tapping pieces into place, installing nails or even removing wall sections or nails you no longer need.

3.    Level. If you want to hang anything evenly, you need a level. Use a level to measure holes for hanging cabinets, towel bars and pictures.

4.    Pencils. You will use pencils to mark studs or drill holes or to make notes while you’re working.

5.    Pliers. Pliers are essential for removing staples and nails. You can also use them to remove screws. Keep an assortment of different sized pliers on hand.

6.    Putty knife. If you are covering nail holes or wall cracks, you need a putty knife to spread the spackling. You can also use a putty knife to remove wall paper, adhesives or spilled paint or caulk.

7.    Screwdrivers. At the very least, you need a regular screwdriver and a Phillips head screwdriver with a medium tip. You should also have a set of small screwdrivers on hand.

8.    Tape measure. A good tape measure will come in handy any time you need to measure.

9.    Utility knife. This knife is basically a razor blade with a handle. You can use it to remove wallpaper, scrape paint or remove tape after painting.

10.   Vice grip. Vice grips help you hold items, and they are especially useful if you are removing screws, untwisting something with sticky adhesive or just need to hold something while you work.

Let me help you prepare your Southern New Hampshire real estate for a fast sale. Give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.