Help! Kitchen (hot water side) pipe is frozen. All other plumbing in working order. What now?

Question

I cannot get into the cellar (frozen completely shut) to see if there was a burst. Right now I have the hot water handle turned "on" a bit, to see if water ends up coming through. Fortunately the bathtub is still working, so my dirty coffee mugs are happily soaking away. I'm worried/scared -- there's no money for a plumber. Is there something I can do NOW? Anything? Thank you in advance --- (It's evening, and getting colder by the minute... ugh.)

Answer 1

start by leaving the spigot in the kitchen OPEN all night , if there is any chance of water getting through you want it to, that is, if it even drips then let it drip, some flow is better than no flow and will help in any event.

You really need to get into that cellar, a propane torch can be used, don't hold it in one area but rather like you are ironing a shirt, back and fourth along the pipe, most likely frozen where the pipe is closest to the outdoors.

Taking a hot shower or running the water as hot as you can will at least warm up some of the pipes running in the cellar, if the frozen part is near that, the heated copper may help a bit.

Answer 2

By the statement 'all other plumbing seems to be working,' does that include hot water to bathroom or shower? Is the water heater in the cellar? Is it gas? Oil? Or electric? Is it on, and does it have fuel? When you say frozen solid are you referring to the lock or the door. If it is the lock, try some lock de-icer(Alcohol) to open it. If it is ice, a portion of rock salt and water may melt enough to open it. Try heating water on the stove to thaw the door area. Borrow a sledge hammer from a neighbor? Once in the cellar try to see if you can feel a really cold air stream on the pipe or other source of cold, and block it. Run your hair dryer or electric paint stripper on the pipe to thaw it, while leaving the kitchen tap open. If a pipe has split, turn off the supply to the hot water tank, and then turn off the power to the heater. Cut out the section of split pipe and measure it or take it to the hardware store. Buy a length of flexible hot water rated plastic pipe just a bit longer than the stuff you cut out plus two plastic to copper connectors to connect it to the remaining pipes. After making the repairs, look to keeping enough heat in the area to prevent freezing again. It is best to enclose the pipes in a space that is heated by the house, and insulate the exterior of the space.

Answer 3

If you can get at the pipes below the sink, turn a hair dryer on that pipe and see if heat is conducted down the pipe to where it is frozen. Or if you have a small portable heater that throws a lot of heat, you could use that instead.

A couple words of caution: You should not use both a heater and hair dryer because that might be too much wattage and could blow the circuit. Also if the wall plug gets too hot, pull it so you don't start a fire.

Answer 4

You will have to get some heat on it somehow. Fairly quick as it sounds like it hasn't frozen solid yet. If it hasn't frozen solid yet then it probably hasn't damaged anything. Try and get some insulation around those pipes to stop them freezing up especially if they are against an outside wall.

Answer 5

Get a hair dryer and start warming the pipe enought to let the water flow.

Answer 6

get into the cellar and put a heat tape on the affected pipe. insulate this pipe can prevent further occurrences.

Answer 7

You might want to try a space heater aimed under the sink. It may get it warmed up enough under there to get it running a bit. Best of luck.

Answer 8

As with what the others said, you may also want to leave the water trickle at the other faucets to prevent further freezing.