What To Do When Your Pipes Freeze

If you turn on your faucets, and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on, your pipes may be frozen. Rest assured! Even if your pipes are frozen, it’s not a problem until they burst. Follow these precautions when your pipes freeze, and nothing will escalate!

Evaluating

First, open the faucet that the pipe pumps water into. This relieves the pressure and allows water to escape once you start thawing the pipe. Open BOTH the hot and cold handles too.

Thawing Step By Step

Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or open flame. Begin the thawing near the faucet and work your way toward the frozen blockage. If you only focus only on thawing the blockage section, you may create more pressure in that area and increase the chance the pipes burst from the melting ice. You can use a hair dryer, heat lamp, portable space heater, hot towels, or electrical heating tape on an open, outward, exposed pipe.

Thawing Enclosed Pipes

If the pipe is enclosed NOT exposed, you can turn up the heat in your home, place an infrared lamp by the wall where the pipe is located or cut a section out of the drywall in front of the pipe so you can see it and access it in order to thaw. When thawing a frozen pipe, you face the risk of a burst pipe or a fire, so if you’re at all uncomfortable or overwhelmed with the prospect of these tips, we recommend calling for assistance!

Unsure How to Thaw?

If your pipes freeze, call HB McClure at 717-232-4328.  HB McClure provides residential and commercial heating, cooling, and plumbing installation and services. We’ll locate the frozen pipe, thaw it safely, and ensure it won’t burst. If pipes HAVE burst, we will resolve that and protect your home and electronics in the process.