Dream Lands Design
  • Home Improvement
    • DIY
    • Remodeling
    • Woodworking
    • Accessories
    • Home Design
      • Furniture
      • Organize
      • Tips
      • Decor
        • Interior
        • Exterior
  • Design Ideas
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Dining Room
    • Living Room
    • Kitchen
  • Gardening
    • Backyard
    • Front Yard
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement
    • DIY
    • Remodeling
    • Woodworking
    • Accessories
    • Home Design
      • Furniture
      • Organize
      • Tips
      • Decor
        • Interior
        • Exterior
  • Design Ideas
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Dining Room
    • Living Room
    • Kitchen
  • Gardening
    • Backyard
    • Front Yard
    • Landscaping

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Backyard
  • Bathroom
  • Beauty
  • Bedroom
  • Cars
  • Decor
  • Design Ideas
  • Dining Room
  • DIY
  • Entertaining
  • Exterior
  • Finance
  • Front Yard
  • Furniture
  • Gardening
  • Green Living
  • Home Design
  • Home Improvement
  • Interior
  • Kitchen
  • Landscaping
  • Lifestyle
  • Living
  • Living Room
  • Organize
  • Photography
  • Real Estate
  • Remodeling
  • Tips
  • Uncategorized
  • Wall Improvement
  • Woodworking

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us
29K
98K
0
Dream Lands Design
  • Home Improvement
    • DIY
    • Remodeling
    • Woodworking
    • Accessories
    • Home Design
      • Furniture
      • Organize
      • Tips
      • Decor
        • Interior
        • Exterior
  • Design Ideas
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Dining Room
    • Living Room
    • Kitchen
  • Gardening
    • Backyard
    • Front Yard
    • Landscaping
Featured image - Frozen Pipes: 6 Things You Should Do If Your Pipes Are Frozen
You're here: Home Home Improvement Frozen Pipes: 6 Things You Should Do If Your Pipes Are Frozen

Frozen Pipes: 6 Things You Should Do If Your Pipes Are Frozen

  • Perla Irish
  • July 3, 2020
Total
47
Shares
42
0
5
0
0
Table of Contents Hide
  1. Symptoms of Frozen Pipes
    1. Temperature
    2. No Water Comes out of the Faucet
    3. Strange Smells
  2. What to Do If Your Pipes Are Frozen
    1. Use a Hairdryer
    2. Try a Heat Lamp
    3. Use an Electrical Heating Tape
    4. Try Hot Towels
    5. Call a Professional
    6. Know What Not to Do
  3. How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
  4. That’s What to Do When Pipes Are Frozen

Research shows that around 14,000 Americans suffer a water damage emergency at home or work every day.

In the winter, frozen pipes are a major culprit so homeowners must know the signs and how to deal with them.

image - Frozen Pipes: 6 Things You Should Do If Your Pipes Are Frozen
Frozen Pipes: 6 Things You Should Do If Your Pipes Are Frozen

Perhaps your pipes are frozen, and you’re unsure what to do. If so, you’ve come to the right place.

Here are six things to do if your pipes are frozen.


Read Also:

  • Frost-protect Your Pipes: How to Prevent Water Pipes from Freezing in the Winter
  • Woah, What’s That Smell? 6 Signs Your Home Needs Professional Drain Cleaning
  • How to Set Right Some Minor Plumbing Issues at Home All by Yourself
  • The Most Important Steps to Have Your Home Ready for Winter
  • Top Five Reasons to Hire the Best Drain Cleaning Company
  • What Is Drain Jetting and When Do Your Pipes Need It?
  • How to Take Care of Your Drains in Winters?

Symptoms of Frozen Pipes

Before we solve your frozen pipe water damage problem, we must identify the telltale signs of frozen water pipes. Once you notice any of these, you must act quickly. You should look out for:

Temperature

“What temperature is freezing?”

It’s impossible for water or pipes to freeze when it’s 60 degrees Fahrenheit outside. If the temperature drops lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit, take precautions against the dripping weather.

When frost appears on exposed pipes like under the sink, it’s a clear sign the pipe is frozen.

No Water Comes out of the Faucet

One of the earliest signs of frozen pipes is no water comes out when you turn the faucet on.

If there’s no running water, head to the basement to see whether the water’s turned on and there isn’t a leak.

Strange Smells

Another potential sign of frozen pipes is an odd smell coming from the faucet or drain. This is because the only way for an odor to escape is because the pipe is partially or fully frozen.

What to Do If Your Pipes Are Frozen

Once you’ve decided the pipes are frozen, you must take immediate action. There are many ways to handle frozen pipes before they burst. Consider these, for example:

  1. Use a Hairdryer

Regardless of which method you choose, keep your faucet open during the process. Water streams through the system so your pipes need to discharge the excess. Plus, moving water is key to shifting frost.

Using a hairdryer is one of the easiest ways to thaw a pipe. Turn the dryer on and direct the nozzle toward the pipe, starting to the section closest to the faucet.

Be mindful of using the electrical product as you don’t want to come in contact with water.

  1. Try a Heat Lamp

Bring a heat lamp close to your frozen pipe so the heat thaws it. Or you can use a portable space heater.

Again, follow the same safety measures on the device and keep it away from water.

  1. Use an Electrical Heating Tape

It’s possible to apply electrical heating tape around the frozen pipe. It slowly distributes heat, eventually thawing it.

It’s possible to buy electrical heating tape that you plug in or buy heating tape that turns off by itself.

  1. Try Hot Towels

If you don’t have any of the above, consider wrapping hot towels around the pipe.

Dip your towels in hot water and wrap them tightly around the pipe. They will eventually thaw the blockage and return the flow of water.

Continue applying heat to the pipe until the water flow returns to normal. Once it’s successfully thawed, turn on other faucets in your home to see if there are any more frozen pipes.

  1. Call a Professional

Unconfident DIY-ers should hire a professional. Plumbers have the equipment and expertise to thaw your pipes efficiently and get them running again.

If you’re leaving your home for an extended period, hire a professional to shut off the water supply and ensure no water is left in the system.

You should also ask what to do for your heating system as your boiler may need to be drained or filled with antifreeze.

  1. Know What Not to Do

Never use a blowtorch, propane, or any other open flame device to thaw your frozen pipes as they are severe fire hazards.

And never leave any heating device unattended. Otherwise, it may cause an accident.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

One of the most obvious preventative measures is draining pipes likely to freeze such as sprinkler water supply lines. Or place an insulating dome over outdoor faucets or spigots so they’re less likely to freeze.

You should also disconnect, drain, and store hoses in the garage and close indoor valves that supply these outdoor access points.

Consider insulating pipes because when the water’s warmer, less energy is needed to heat water in winter.

In extreme weather, leave faucets dripping as it prevents the pipes from freezing. Even a trickle will keep the water moving and prevent it from solidifying.

If you’re leaving your home in the winter, don’t turn your thermostat all the way down. Your home should be no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit otherwise your pipes will freeze.

You should also open cabinets under your sink so warmer air circulates around the pipes. Plus, seal any wall cracks, keep garage doors closed to protect water lines, and insulate light fixtures so heat doesn’t escape into the attic.

That’s What to Do When Pipes Are Frozen

Now you know what to do when pipes are frozen.

You can thaw pipes with a hairdryer, heater, electrical heating tape, or hot towels if you’re confident. Consider calling a professional for a quick and safe fix so your pipes aren’t blocked during the winter.

Take precautions so your pipes don’t freeze and you’re not overwhelmed by bills. Good luck!

Did you find this article helpful? If so, check out our articles on everything from Home to Real Estate.

Total
47
Shares
Share 42
Tweet 0
Pin it 5
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • heating
  • pipes
  • water

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

You May Also Like
featured image - Read This Before Replacing Your Oven Light Bulb
View Post

Read This Before Replacing Your Oven Light Bulb

  • January 31, 2023
Featured image - How to Deal with Overgrown Plants: 4 Options
View Post

How to Deal with Overgrown Plants: 4 Options

  • January 31, 2023
Featured image - The Typical Instances When You Will Need the Services of a Locksmith
View Post

The Typical Instances When You Will Need the Services of a Locksmith

  • January 31, 2023
Featured image - Best Tile for Commercial Spaces
View Post

Best Tile for Commercial Spaces

  • January 31, 2023
Featured image - A Designer’s Guide to Ottoman Styles
View Post

A Designer’s Guide to Ottoman Styles

  • January 31, 2023
featured image - 6 Tips for Using Informed Delivery with Direct Mail
View Post

6 Tips for Using Informed Delivery with Direct Mail

  • January 30, 2023
Featured image - Why Homeowners Should Monitor Water Quality
View Post

Why Homeowners Should Monitor Water Quality

  • January 30, 2023
featured image - 4 Electrical Problems Many Homeowners Experience
View Post

4 Electrical Problems Many Homeowners Experience

  • January 29, 2023
Dream Lands Design
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Add Dream Lands Design to your Homescreen!

Add