We woke up this morning to frozen pipes. Our cold is fine in the kitchen and bathroom sink in the bathtub neither hot or cold is working. We have a heat lamp but appartenly it got to cold last night for that to prevent it, we had the cold water running in the kitchen. What is the safest way for for us to unthaw them so we don't have to call a plumber or have them burst? Right now we have a small heater underneath and have the water running in the house and have the heat up high. Any other things that may work or will this just take time? Thanks in advance.
2007-01-15 04:32:59 · 10 answers · asked by binkxsteph 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Use a hand-held hair blow-dryer. Point it at suspected freeze points, but be careful not to melt or burn the plastic pipe.
2007-01-15 04:50:11 · answer #1 · answered by rumplesnitz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Leave the water trickling in one of the rooms, bathroom and maybe one in the kitchen. Just a trickle leaving the water to be flowing, this is creating some energy and it wont freeze. Some of the other answers were good with the advice of leaving a heater on or if you have a wood burning stove. I have used a hair dryer and its ok, not bad, i had a repair man tell me that. When its to be expected to come to a freeze the local weather channel will let you know if you have to take these measures. Wrap the pipes outside and pray over your house. We just got to 9 degrees last night and freezing the past three days , were doing good. So thank God youll be alright.
2007-01-15 08:16:45 · answer #2 · answered by Bought & paid for!! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You didn't mention how easy it was to access?
Don't use a plumbers torch, or any other source of flame or really high heat. A hair dryer, or industrial heat gun is best. With the problem tap open, begin warming on the tap side and work your way back to the main. Whatever damage is done, would happen during the freeze itself, not from thawing if you use this method.
Prevention: Heat tape designed for this purpose is best, and inexpensive to purchase, and cheaper to operate than space heaters, heat lamps or other forms of general heating. Follow the instructions that come with it, as some allow you to overwrap with insulation (best), and some don't. The best ones come with a little thermostat built in, so they won't even be turned on until it gets to about 37 F or so.
2007-01-15 04:55:36 · answer #3 · answered by KirksWorld 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is your home underpinned? I yes, the only thing you can do is put more heat under the house to thaw the pipes. But you might expect busted pipes and the pipes are typically a different material then your standard PVC water lines. They're pretty easy to repair, but a lot of the mobile home floors are made out of particle board 4x8 sheets which don't handle water at all.
2007-01-15 04:42:00 · answer #4 · answered by Turnhog 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chances are if your pipes are frozen they are already burst. Better do a good job of checking and replacing them now before they thaw or you will be replacing flooring also.
Replace them with peck pipe. It is available at most places that sell pipe. When frozen, it will swell to three (? check advertising) times its size without rupture. It is very flexible and easy to work with. The place you purchase it from should be able to tell you how to install it and even rent you the tool if it is necessary (some places sell tooless fittings, cost more but don't have to rent crimping tool).
I have used it and it will easily bend around corners without fittings.
As a final note, besure to install heat tapes and insulation.
2007-01-15 04:58:03 · answer #5 · answered by MT C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my mom had frozen pipes cause she has a wood stove that doesn't heat certain parts of the house
she always just gets those electric heaters you plug in the wall
keeps them on all day and night if its cold and if its not cold then you can just leave it off
make sure to put it as close as you can to the pipes and be careful when your taking a shower
2007-01-15 04:42:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have a heat tape with a wire in it that you just wrap around your pipes and plug one end into an electrical outlet. It sends a current throught it and heats the tape and pipes like an electric heater. Thats what my dad did with our pipes. We lived in Northeastern Az. at the time, and yes it froze and snowed also where we lived. You might check either a plumbing supply or mobile home supply store.
2007-01-15 16:18:51 · answer #7 · answered by trollwzrd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time helps but if you can disconnect the water from the main sourse (turn it off first) it might go quicker also instead of a lamp go to the hardware store and buy a elctric heat tape
2007-01-15 04:40:52 · answer #8 · answered by c 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wrap the bottom of the cellular living house, and pressure warmth air down there. do not try utilising propane/ kerosene, or any heater of that nature. you're waiting to unscrew a number of the floor ducts and enable it warmth up that way.
2016-11-24 19:15:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
use a heater and point it at the pipes..
happens to me in my HOUSE
2007-01-15 04:45:49 · answer #10 · answered by Nohaymanana 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋