How to Thaw Frozen Water Pipes

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

How to Thaw Frozen Water Pipes

Frozen pipes at your home in Maple Grove, MN can turn into a major problem if not dealt with immediately. Resulting burst pipes can lead to flooding, which can mean costly repairs. But there are several paths you can take to try to resolve the problem yourself before a disaster occurs.


Open the Faucets


Try turning on faucets to determine which pipes are frozen. If they are frozen, very little or no water will run out. Open the faucet (both hot and cold) of the affected pipe and let nearby faucets trickle. This running water can sometimes thaw some of the frozen water in the pipes within a couple of hours. It will also release water as the ice melts. Running water is less likely to freeze than water sitting in the pipes. It’s important to start with faucets first and work your way from there. This will keep pipe pressure to a minimum as the ice is thawing.


Heat the Air


Place a space heater or heat lamp near (but not touching) the pipe. Depending on the size of the room, several heat sources may be needed. Turning up the central heat at the property may also help.


Heat the Pipe


A hairdryer can be used to help warm frozen pipes. Use the hairdryer in a sweeping motion, constantly moving it to avoid uneven heating or overheating the pipe.


Wrap the Pipe


Electrical heat tape applies heat directly to the pipe. Wrap one layer of the tape around the affected pipe in a spiral motion and plug it in. Heat tape can be left attached to the pipe; just plug it in as needed.


Apply Salt


Since salt lowers the melting point of ice, pouring a tablespoon of salt down a drain can help to unfreeze the pipe.
Frozen pipes need to be dealt with quickly and safely to prevent bursting. If your house experiences damage from pipe freeze, you can rely on winter storm damage restoration professionals to get it back to normal as soon as possible.