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How To

How to Unfreeze Water Pipes

Member
By justmac333
User-Submitted Article
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This is a description of a few possible methods for unfreezing water pipes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Hair dryer, a towel and hot water, or a heating pad.
  1. Step 1

    First you have to locate which section of your pipes is frozen. Start by turning on the faucet closest to where your pipes exit your house, if you don't have any water flow then the pipes are frozen between that faucet and the main line, if you do get water flow then continue with faucets further away until you find the closest one being blocked by the ice. Your frozen pipe will be between the blocked faucet and the last running faucet.

  2. Step 2

    Next you have to narrow down where in that section is actually frozen. This can usually be done by hand, by following the pipe and feeling for a spot that is colder than the rest of the pipe.

  3. Step 3

    Now that you've located the frozen section you can use any of three methods to warm the pipe and the ice inside it. You can use a hair dryer set on hot, or wrap an electric heating pad around the pipe if you can reach electricity. If electricity isn't available you can tie a towel around the pipe and soak it with hot water.

Tips & Warnings
  • If you don't have experience plumbing don't disconnect any pipes, call a professional.
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