It is important to take necessary measures to prevent frozen pipes before a big winter chill. These can include keeping a sink faucet dripping, covering outdoor faucets and insulating exposed pipes. Frozen water can cause pipe expansion and eventual damage to your plumbing system. Busted pipes, unfortunately, can mean a very costly repair job.
If your pipes do freeze (and they have not burst), there are a few things you can do to safely de-thaw them and restore your plumbing.
- Keep the faucet open. This allows the melted water to flow and melt remaining ice in the pipe.
- Apply heat to frozen area of the pipe. This can be done using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, a hair dryer or towels soaked in hot water. NEVER use a blowtorch or other open flame device to heat your pipes!
- Try a portable space heater. This can help melt your frozen pipes, but be sure you never leave it unattended or place it near flammable materials.
- Continue to apply heat until full water pressure is restored.
If your efforts are failing or you cannot access your frozen pipes, it may be time to call a professional plumber. Metro Septic and Plumbing routinely helps homeowners recover from frozen pipes. If pipe damage did occur, you can trust that we offer effective solutions at the most competitive price. We are also happy to educate you on the specific ways you can protect your pipes during the next hard freeze.
