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Thawing Frozen Pipes: A How to Guide about Thawing Frozen Pipes

SAFETY FIRST! Propane torches or an open flame can ignite wood beams, flooring and other combustible materials around pipes. Use a hair dryer to thaw frozen pipes. Pipes that warm too fast can break.

If you think a pipe has already frozen, don't wait for nature to take its course, thaw the pipe as soon as possible or call a licensed plumber for help.

Try Opening all the faucets. One or more pipes may not be completely frozen and even a small water flow might thaw the obstruction.

If that doesn't work, Use a hair dryer to heat the pipe where you suspect the freeze has occurred. Propane torches are dangerous and can cause fires, not to mention that a frozen pipe can crack or break if warmed too quickly.

Make sure the taps are openwhile the pipes are heated in order to remove all the ice in the system once the main blockage is eliminated.

If you have a basement - Locate the spot where the water pipe enters the home. See if this pipe passes through a non-insulated area such as the "ribbon plate" right above the walls. Apply heat to any suspect area.

If you have a crawl space - Look for any area where cold air can enter. Apply heat to all sections of pipes located in this area.

If you live in a mobile home - There is a greater chance the main supply pipe will freeze at the point where it enters your home. Apply heat directly to that pipe if possible, from the point where it leaves the ground to where it enters your mobile home.

If you can not access the pipe, use a heater with a strong blower, such as a construction site torpedo type heater. Many rental companies have them.

If you don't have a hair dryer handy - Use a heat lamp or electric space heater, but be careful you don't overload the circuit, and make sure the outlet is properly grounded to prevent electrical shock. Where possible, plug the appliance into a ground fault interrupt protected outlet.

If you feel you really must use a propane torch:

- Never use a propane torch on PVC pipe, they can melt and burn.
- Never use a propane torch near a gas line, an explosion, serious injury or death could result.

Remember: When thawing, slow is best. Heating up frozen pipes quickly can cause the pipe to crack or break.

Be especially careful not to let the flame come in contact with any wood or surrounding flammable material. Many fires are caused by accidents which occur through carelessness, and because a ready supply of water is not available due to the obstruction. Keep a fire extinguisher close at hand.

A good idea is to surround the area to be heated with "sheet rock" or gypsum board (drywall), but keep in mind that these are paper-coated.

Once the obstruction is cleared and the water is flowing again, turn off all faucets and check for leaks in the area where the obstruction occurred. Any leaks you find should be repaired immediately. If you cannot repair them yourself, call a professional.

When the weather warms up, check unused portions of your water system for freezing damage and leaks to avoid possible flooding damage from undetected cracked or broken pipes.

If you live in an area that usually experiences severe winter weather, consider insulating both hot and cold water pipes (including the fittings) in all unheated areas. Certified electric heat tape wrapped around the pipes can also help prevent frozen piping.

Only heat tape that is certified by a nationally recognized testing lab should be used. Be careful not to wrap heat tape back over itself; that could cause the tape to overheat and could become a fire hazard.