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As a good portion of MI and surrounding states experience frigged temperatures well below freezing you may be worried about frozen pipes.  Frozen pipes are a homeowner’s worst nightmare in the winter. Not only do they prevent your water from flowing, they also pose a huge risk for bursting if quick action isn’t taken. Knowing what to do when your pipes freeze could save you thousands of dollars, since burst pipes can cause massive property damage by flooding areas of your home. As they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” so first let’s understand what causes pipes to freeze in the winter and how to prevent it from happening.

HOW TO PREVENT YOUR PIPES FROM FREEZING

You can’t control the weather, but you can take precautions to winterize your home and drastically reduce the chances of your pipes freezing:

Seal up cracks in exterior walls – Pay close attention to where service lines, such as TV and internet cables, enter your home.

Add insulation to unheated interior spaces – If your attic or crawl space has insufficient insulation, adding more could save your pipes.

Open cabinets under sinks – This allows heated air to circulate around the pipes.

Insulate the pipes themselves – Wrap exposed pipes in heating tape or pipe insulation.

Keep your home heated – If you’re going out of town, leave your thermostat set to at least 55 degrees.

Open faucets – If you know temperatures will be plummeting, open your faucets slightly to allow water to trickle from them.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR PIPES FREEZE

If it’s below freezing and you notice that you’re not getting water from one or more faucets, you likely have a frozen pipe. Quick action is essential to thaw the pipe and prevent it from bursting. Take the following steps to protect your plumbing and your home:

Shut off your water – You need to find your main water supply valve. If you don’t know where it is, call your utility company’s emergency line for assistance locating it.

Try to find the frozen pipe – Remember that it’s most likely in a basement, crawl space, attic, exterior wall, or under a sink. You will most likely see frost on the outside of the pipe.

Open the faucets connected to that pipe – This will relieve pressure on the non-frozen portions of the pipe.

Check for leaks – If you can see that the pipe is cracked or has burst, call a professional plumber immediately.

Attempt to thaw – If you find the pipe and it is easily accessible, you can try to use a hair dryer or space heater to thaw it. Do not use an open flame.

Source: https://www.blindandsons.com/blog/what-to-do-when-your-pipes-freeze/