Frozen Pipes
How to prevent Frozen pipes: with any cold weather spell we encounter in WNY, wind chill is usually the culprit in a frozen pipe. Preventing any windy drafts from entering your attic, crawlspace, or basement is the most cost effective way to prevent a pipe from freezing. Trace your home's water pipes from your basement or crawlspace. Physically inspect the sill plate of your home or walls of your crawlspace. If you see any daylight coming in, these areas should be addressed first, using a foam, filling insulation (expandable/non-expandable), caulk, or plastic coverings. Fiberglass insulation can be used to fill wall cavities and floor cavities you may be experiencing a cold draft in. Eliminating as many open cavities that allow air to blow through them can usually solve a frozen pipe problem. If you find yourself out in the cold this winter with frozen water pipes, Nick Shembeda Plumbing & HVAC thaws frozen pipes using an electronic pipe thawing machine. This machine sends electrical current through the frozen section of pipe which slowly creates heat. This only works with copper and galvanized water lines, as the piping must be conducive and carry electrical current.