Chances are that you are not thinking about what you will do in the winter if your pipes freeze. However, having a plan for dealing with frozen pipes before they are a problem is simply smart. Even when you have taken all the steps possible to prevent your home’s plumbing pipes from freezing, the situation can still occur. If your plumbing has frozen, you will want to take steps immediately to prevent further damage to the pipes and reduce the possibility of damage from flooding.
Consider calling a plumbing contractor to assist you but depending on the time of day the problem occurs you may have to take some steps yourself. There are several methods that you can use to gently thaw frozen water pipes. Use a hair dryer to gently warm sections of the pipe starting at the point farthest away from the plumbing entrance into the home. You will be working from the warmest area back to the coldest.
You do not want to overheat the pipes or heat them too quickly, which could cause damage. Using a torch may actually cause the water inside the pipe to boil and possibly explode. Heating materials too quickly could cause slight cracks in the pipe or weaken joints and the damage may not be apparent right away.
Have one faucet turned on slightly to allow water to escape as it thaws. Once water starts moving in the system the situation may improve on its own. Sometimes just wrapping frozen sections of pipes in towels will help them thaw. You can also use an oscillating fan to blow warm air across the pipes. Placing a small portable heater in the area will help speed up the process.
Unfortunately there may be times when the frozen section of plumbing will not be accessible. In this case you will need to keep the rest of the pipes as warm as possible until you can get professional plumbing help. You should always consider calling your plumbing contractor even if you have successfully thawed your pipes and do not notice any leaks. A thorough inspection can reduce the chance of the system developing problems from damage that is not immediately evident.
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