How to Open Up Frozen Pipes at a Sink
Extremely cold temperatures during the winter season can cause sink pipes to freeze, preventing water from flowing and disrupting the morning routine of getting ready for school or work. Plus, frozen pipes are in danger of bursting, which can lead to a big mess and lots of expense. Simple methods can quickly unfreeze your pipes and get the water flowing unimpeded again. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Use a heat gun. Heat guns release a steady flow of hot air, and if you have one in your possession, this device can quickly thaw your pipes. Turn on your heat gun and move the gun alongside the pipes underneath your sink until water begins to flow.
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Setup a portable heater. Bring a small portable heater into your bathroom or kitchen, open the cabinet doors beneath the sink and position the heater near the frozen pipes. Turn on the heater and allow the heat to warm the pipes until they thaw.
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Grab your hair dryer. If you don't have an electric heater on hand, use a handheld electric hair dryer to quickly unfreeze pipes under your sink. Plug the hair dryer into an outlet and hold the dryer next to the pipes as warm air heats the frozen area.
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Use a towel and hot water. If only one or two pipes are frozen in your home, you can use hot water to unfreeze these pipes. Start by wrapping a towel around the frozen pipe. Boil hot water on the stove or run hot water from a sink with an already unfrozen pipe. Pour the hot water over the towel-wrapped pipe to help it thaw out.
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Tips & Warnings
Take preventative measures during winter to avert frozen pipes. Use electrical heat tape to keep pipes from freezing. Follow the directions carefully when installing yourself, or call a professional plumber to install the heat tape. Fires can result from improper installation.
Keeping the water flowing also helps prevent frozen pipes. Open the tap just enough for a slow dripping.
Open the doors on cabinets under the sink on especially cold nights, letting the warmer air from the rest of your home help keep the pipes thawed.
