Frozen pipes are not just inconvenient to deal with but they can also lead to major water damage and expensive plumbing repairs. Cold weather is the major culprit that causes the pipes to freeze.
When your pipes freeze, you need to thaw them out to be able to get access to running water again. However, if you do this incorrectly, you can damage your pipes and cause them to leak or burst.
Fortunately, you can prevent the resulting damage if you properly thaw frozen pipes. But before we discuss effective tips for thawing frozen pipes, we need to know how we can locate these pipes.
Locating the Frozen Pipes
Before starting the thawing process, you first need to determine which pipes are frozen. There are a few ways of doing this. You can turn on all of your home’s faucets. If no water comes out from a particular faucet, chances are the pipe attached to that faucet is frozen.
In most cases, when one pipe is frozen, others are likely frozen, too. You can also find the frozen portion of the pipes located in basements, garages, or under sinks.
Turn off the Water and Open the Faucets
Once you’ve located the frozen pipes, the next crucial step is to turn off the main water supply of your household. At the same time, open the faucets attached to the frozen pipes. Make sure to open both cold and hot handles.
This will allow water to flow out of the system once you begin to thaw the pipes.
How to Thaw Exposed Pipes
Exposed pipes are located in areas you can easily access, such as the basement, bathroom vanity, and kitchen cabinets. These pipes are usually the first to freeze since they are located in cooler areas with less insulation. There are several ways you can thaw these pipes, including:
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Use a Heat Lamp
This is one of the most effective ways to thaw frozen pipes without stopping the water flow in the pipe. You simply need to place/hang the heat lamp near/above the frozen pipe and wait for it to thaw.
Here, one thing to remember is that you need to provide gradual warm heat, not direct heat. This method is effective when the frozen pipe is installed in a smaller enclosed area. Make sure you follow all safety measures and stay vigilant throughout the entire process.
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Use a Hairdryer
This is one of the easiest ways to thaw frozen pipes. Just turn on the hairdryer while pointing the heat at the frozen pipe. It is usually better to heat the portion closest to the faucet and gradually further down the pipe.
Make sure you follow all the hairdryer’s safety measures and avoid coming into contact with water while using the device.
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Use Heat Tape
Using heat tape (sometimes also called heat cable) is one of the most successful ways to thaw frozen pipes. You can wrap this tape around the frozen pipe to constantly provide low heat. This leads to melting the blockage in the pipe.
Heat tapes can also be handy in case of pipes that are prone to freezing. These tapes are used as a preventive measure in such circumstances. On top of that, these tapes are ideal if you have a long run of frozen pipes.
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Use Hot Towels
Though it might not be as effective as other methods listed here, it's still worth trying. Start by dipping towels in hot water. Once they're properly dipped, wrap them around the frozen pipe and wait for it to thaw. This method is a bit slower than others and requires patience.
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Use a Thermostat
This is another method that is not as effective as a hairdryer, heat lamp, or heat tape. However, it can be handy when dealing with mildly frozen pipes. You need to keep the room (with the frozen pipe) warmer. In addition to that, you should open any doors or cupboards so that the warm air circulates to the frozen pipe.
How to Thaw Enclosed Pipes
Thawing enclosed pipes can be more challenging than exposed pipes. Before you start, check if the frozen pipes are touching the outer wall or if there is an opening outside. If you find any, make sure you fix them first since it can help you thaw frozen pipes. Let’s take a look at how you can thaw enclosed pipes.
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Cut Out a Portion of the Wall
You can cut out a portion of the drywall blocking the access to the frozen pipe. Once you’ve cut it out, you can easily access the frozen pipe and apply one of the methods mentioned in the previous section of the blog, such as heat lamps, heat towels, etc.
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Heat Your Home
Heating your property is another way of thawing an enclosed frozen pipe. You can use a thermostat to increase your home’s temperature. This is one of the most effective methods to thaw enclosed pipes. However, it can take hours or even days to produce desired outcomes.
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Use an Infrared Lamp
If you can find the portion of the wall where the frozen pipe is located, you can place an infrared lamp in front of that portion to thaw the pipe. The heat coming out from the lamp might also cause the pipe to defrost while penetrating the wall.
How to Prevent Pipes from Freezing
You can prevent pipes from freezing if you keep them warm. Follow these steps:
- Add insulation to your ceilings and walls
- Make sure you keep your property at a higher temperature during winter
- Add insulation to your home’s exposed pipes
- Locate and fix portions where there are drafts
Final Thoughts
Frozen pipes are hard to tackle, whether enclosed or exposed frozen pipes. Not only can they lead to expensive plumbing repairs, but they also cause significant water damage. Several factors can cause pipes to freeze, with cold weather being the major culprit.
Luckily, there are numerous tried and tested methods of thawing frozen pipes. While some are quick and effective (heat lamp, hairdryer, and heat tape), others require time and patience (heat towels and thermostats). You can try one of these methods if you want to thaw frozen pipes, or you can contact Mesa Plumbing Company if you need professional plumbing assistance.