I have an outdoor faucet that has a slow drip. It's freeezing here in Chicago now, so there's a big chunk of ice coming from it. I'm wondering if I'm in danger of the pipe bursting or is the slow drip actually helping it from bursting? Should I break off the ice to clear it and let the drip flow more easily or might that damage the pipe?
2007-02-03 04:48:20 · 7 answers · asked by chi_town_johnnyb 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
never "break" ice. you might break the faucet. pour hot water over it until it has melted. also, turn the water off inside to prevent this in the future. hope this helps.
2007-02-03 06:11:44 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rusty nail is right in order to repair a broken copper pipe you almost always have to solder it which takes a specialized torch and know how. I know plumbers are expensive but you might be able to find a sprinkler specialist or a handyman that will work on copper pipe for less money than a plumber. By the way what do you mean by "a couple of work room". If the faucet broke off the coupling it was attached to check to see if the other end of the broken pipe is threaded in or soldered in. If it has threads you you may be able to unscrew it and replace it with a new piece. If not you will have to unsolder and resolder a new piece of pipe.
2016-05-23 23:30:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As it is frozen the best thing to do to prevent a burst pipe is to try to open the tap fully. This is because when a frozen pipe thaws, and there is no outlet for the water, it s only way out is to burst at the weakest point it can find. If your tap is open or even partially open then when it thaws, the water has a way out. As water thaws, it expands. burst pipes always burst when a thaw sets in and not before. Hope this helps.
2007-02-03 11:33:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The slow drip will actually help keep the pipe and faucet from freezing. By keeping the water moving in the pipe, you are running slightly warmer water from the underground pipes into the line.
2007-02-03 04:56:36 · answer #4 · answered by chimpus_incompetus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's freeeezzzing out here. Thank God the Bears aren't home. I would leave the ice on the pipe just in case you do more damage. You don't need pipes bursting when it's literally -2 out.
2007-02-03 11:03:23 · answer #5 · answered by Sassafrass AKA: SASSY 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't have a shut off on the inside then I would help it to drip.When the weather is good enough install a new,anti-freeze
faucet and you won't have to bother with it next year.
2007-02-03 04:55:51 · answer #6 · answered by Lionman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would just leave it alone until it thaws out. This will happen eventually and you don't want to rupture your pipes.
2007-02-03 04:56:15 · answer #7 · answered by SuzyBelle04 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋