The frozen pipe season is in full swing, so now is a good time to review helpful tips for preventing frozen pipes - and how to safely thaw frozen pipes. Preventing frozen pipes is one of the best ways to protect your home. Frozen pipes can burst, flood your home, and cost thousands of dollars in repairs. We most certainly do not want that to happen to you! We want you to know how to prevent and safely thaw out your frozen pipes. Knowing when
water pipe repair is necessary will also be invaluable in the future!
Everything You Need to Know About Preventing Frozen Pipes
Preventing pipes from freezing in the first place is the key. Pipes located in areas of your house that are not heated should be insulated. Typical unheated areas in your home include:
- Attics
- Under kitchen and bathroom cabinets
- Garages
- Basements
- Crawl Spaces
From a hardware store, you can pick up insulating pipe sleeves, UL-listed heat tape, or even a heat cable. Follow the directions on the package for proper installation and you will prevent frozen pipes. An alternate heat source is always prudent should you find yourself without power. A backup generator will come to your rescue! Not only will you have a warmer home, but you will also be preventing pipes from freezing as well.
Keep the garage door closed! A lot of heat (and energy dollars) escape from your home through the large opening of your garage. This will keep exposed pipes from freezing. During extremely cold weather, it can be a pipe saver to allow a very slow drip to remain on, permitting water to travel through the pipes. The moving water will keep pipes from freezing. Only use this prevention tip for the COLDEST weather.
Easy Steps for Thawing Frozen Pipes
Thawing frozen pipes is easy but should be done carefully. First, turn the water faucets on. A frozen pipe will reveal itself when little or no water can get through the faucet. And if one pipe is frozen, you will likely find more frozen pipes to thaw.
After locating the frozen pipe, double-check to ensure the faucet is turned on. Both the cold and hot faucets should be open. Moving water will expedite the thawing process and remove the cold water from the pipes.
For frozen pipes under kitchen and bathroom cabinets, you could open the cabinet doors and use a space heater to thaw frozen pipes. Hairdryers, hot towels, heat lamps, and electrical heating tape can all be used to thaw frozen pipes. If you use a hairdryer, hot towels, or even electrical tape, start closest to the faucet and work towards the blockage, this will prevent melting ice from being trapped behind the blockage.
Sometimes, you will have a frozen pipe behind a wall or located in a difficult area to access. In these situations thawing frozen pipes will take some ingenuity, but it is doable. The easiest way is just to turn up the heat in the entire house and allow the frozen pipes to thaw. Infrared lamps are handy when you know where the pipe behind the wall is located. Many times the heat from the infrared lamp will be warm enough to thaw the frozen pipe behind the wall. As a last resort, and then only if you are comfortable with doing so, you could always cut out a section of the wall to gain access to the frozen pipe.
Whatever you do, DO NOT thaw frozen pipes with a blow torch or anything with an open flame. (We know, this seems like a “no brainer” but we’ve seen it all) Protect your pipes, property, and yourself by taking extreme precautions to handle your frozen pipe issue.
When Do You Need Water Pipe Repair?
If thawing frozen pipes does not happen, soon enough your pipes will burst, and you will know it. Run to shut off the main water line to the house. Knowing where to locate the main water shut off valve is very helpful. Normally, the main shut-off valve is located near the water meter, but just in case, know where the shutoff valve is located ahead of time. Then call your local plumber for water pipe repair.
If you Need Emergency Plumbing Service in Kansas City, Contact Blue Mills Plumbing
If you have a burst pipe or any plumbing emergency, contact Blue Mills Plumbing. We are here and ready to help with any plumbing need you have – quickly and in all types of weather! Our licensed and insured plumbers are standing by.
