Thawing Out Frozen Water Pipes

By Author: Lance Peters
Total Articles: 81
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Pipes can freeze at an alarming rate once the temperature dips well below freezing. This sometimes happens even when precautions are taken; most often when winterizing a pipe has been overlooked or when a house is not heated efficiently. Sometimes homeowners will be lucky that though the pipes freeze, they do not burst. But it can still be disheartening not to be able to get water from the faucet. There are some tips on how to get your water moving again.

Thawing a pipe should never be done hastily. Slow and consistent thawing is best as it will prevent possible weakening of the pipes. Ice in the pipes being thawed too quickly can cause the ice to explode, damaging the pipe around it. This is more common in PVC pipes. Torches are not recommended to thaw pipes, because they can thaw the pipe far too quickly and also present a huge risk of fire to the home if precaution is not taken. If your pipe has burst, it is imperative to turn off the main feed of water before flooding and major damage can occur.

Turn on any faucets you believe may be adjacent to or fed from the frozen pipe. This will help to locate the ...
... possible frozen pipe line. Often there will be a skin of ice or frost near or on the frozen section. If you are not sure exactly where the frozen section is, but you have a general idea, then you have several options.
Turning up the heat in the home can help, as well as using a well-attended space heater. Using heat lamps, such as infrared lamps, can help thaw a pipe without thawing it too quickly. Always start the thawing process from the faucet and go along the line. Direct the heat toward the pipe as much as you can without placing the lamp too close to the wall or area where the pipe has frozen. If the pipe is inside of a wall, you may have to cut that section of drywall out to have better access to the pipe. Remember to shut off the main water valve before thawing the pipes as there is the possibility of broken pipes which may cause flooding.

Along with heat lamps and turning up the heat in the house, there are a few other methods that will work as well. A hair dryer, electrical heating tape and space heaters are a few other options. Hot water also can be used; but it is messy. Monitor the faucets, to see what progress you are making, and do not stop the thawing process, because thawing the pipes partially and allowing them to freeze again can be costly in the form of burst pipes.

It is probably best to have a master plumber visit your home after frozen pipes have become a problem. They can perform leak detection and ensure that your piping is safe from further harm, as well as give you suggestions on how to prevent frozen pipes in the future. Follow all directions carefully to the letter. If your pipes have burst, do not waste any time. Call a plumber immediately after cutting off the main water supply, and wait for help to arrive. Last, but not least, winterize your pipes every fall.

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