Gently turning on taps connected to pipes that are likely to freeze keeps the water moving and reduces the risk of freezing. Remember to let only a small amount of water flow through, and keep the cabinets around pipes open so warm air can circulate and increase water flow, as well.
Follow these steps to prevent frozen pipes this winter: Maintain a consistent thermostat setting. The American Red Cross recommends keeping your thermostat set to the same temperature all day and night to help maintain a consistent heat level and reduce the risk of freezing pipes. Do not set your thermostat lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter. Keep garage doors closed when not in use , especially if there are any water lines in the garage or on walls adjacent to the garage. Let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed lines.
The American Red Cross says that even the smallest trickle can help prevent these pipes from freezing. How do I thaw frozen pipes in my house? Turn off your water. Turning off your water supply will reduce pressure on the frozen pipes and minimize flooding if the pipe does end up bursting.
Once your water is shut off, try the techniques below to thaw your pipes or call for professional help. Warm it. Use a hairdryer to thaw the entire area so the water gently melts, reducing the risk of damage.
You can also try using a heat lamp to warm the area. Wrap it. Wrap and secure a heavy towel around the pipe to concentrate heat to one area. Then, place a bucket underneath the pipes and pour hot or boiling water over the towel. Use a hose. If you have access to the pipe and it's large enough, you can try running a garden hose through it. When you can't push the hose through anymore, you've reached the frozen area.
When we came home last Thursday, it was a mad dash to find the problem area. To the best of our knowledge, the pipes had frozen underneath the bathroom sink. We immediately took a hair dryer to the area and that seemed to thaw it out enough to get the water running once again. We initially thought we were in the clear. Then we woke up with frozen pipes again on Friday morning.
We did the same song and dance again, taking hair dryers to any area we thought might be causing the blockage. We even put a little space heater under the sink to try to warm things up. So I dashed to Home Depot for more heating cables. Thankfully, there were still a few in stock. We brought these home and then jury-rigged our best solution: cutting a hole through the bottom of our bathroom vanity large enough to fit a hand down alongside the pipes.
We then fished a heating cable down around the pipes and into the basement. There are power strips and extension cords all over the place—but it seems to have worked for now. In this specific area, our brick foundation seems to be crumbling. The jury-rigged solution we came up with to keep our pipes from freezing seems to have worked.
We seemed to have dodged a bullet yet again. Before leaving, we shut the water off to our water tank. It was an extra precaution, but one that we felt would protect our home in case the pipes froze. Saturday night passed without issue. We sailed through Sunday into the New Year without a problem—but of course, that only lasted so long. In hindsight, I should have suggested that she leave her water dripping through the weekend. We rushed back to Boston on Monday morning to deal with the issue ASAP—but this time, we faced a new challenge: We had already wrapped, taken a hairdryer to, and set up space heaters on all of the exposed pipes feeding her unit.
We were stumped. The frozen pipe must be behind a wall the same exterior wall that had been giving us so much trouble. You will discover creative ways to identify and eliminate routines that are no longer benefiting your business. I called a few friends to ask for suggestions. A lifelong plumber told us to crank the heat as high as possible and place space heaters along the wall that we suspected was the issue.
After a few hours, that should do the trick, he said. The next morning, I bit the bullet and called a plumber. He got to my house before noon to deal with the issue. In less than 10 minutes, he had the pipes thawed and water restored. Picture a car battery with jumper cables running out of either end. You hook one end up to an unfrozen pipe, and the other to the frozen section. Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve" or installing UL-listed "heat tape," "heat cable," or similar materials on exposed water pipes.
Consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing. How to Prevent Frozen Pipes Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children. When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation. Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe. Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater kept away from flammable materials , or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water.
Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device. Apply heat until full water pressure is restored.
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