What to Do When Water Pipes Freeze

If you live in a climate where temperatures drop below freezing, there may come a time when you have to deal with frozen water pipes. Of course, prevention is the key to avoid such situations, but pipes are pipes, and no matter how well protected they are, frigid temperatures can cause them to freeze. Learning how to deal with frozen water pipes to keep them safe, prevent accidents and if they do happen to freeze, know how to thaw them properly.

Check Your Pipes

The most common scenarios for a frozen water pipe are those found on exterior walls and where the pipes enter the home or building from ground level. The first thing you'll need to do is turn the water faucets open so that as ice melts, the water will help defrost bits and chunks of ice inside the pipe.

Apply Slow Heat

Don't take a flame thrower to your frozen water pipe. If you have access to it, thaw it slowly by using a hair dryer or by placing an electric heating pad or blanket around the frozen pipe. You can also blow warm air from an electrical space heater on the frozen pipe. If you have access to running water from another part of the home or building, you can also wrap hot towels around the frozen section of pipe.

Call a Plumber

If you can't access the frozen pipe, you basically have two choices: wait for the pipe to thaw on its own, which is not recommended because if one pipe freezes, others may also freeze. Your other option may be to call a plumber. Plumbers (especially in cold weather locations) are very experienced in thawing pipes in a variety of scenarios.

References

• American Red Cross
• Remodeling My Space