the cold is running as I cracked the valve last night, but due to a hard freeze,and my own oversight, the hot lines are frozen. Money is an issue as I am unemployed.
2007-01-17 10:15:50 · 11 answers · asked by mike w 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
open all of your faucets halfway, turn up house heat a little higher than normal, and wait
2007-01-17 10:21:08 · answer #1 · answered by plumbinmonkey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried using a blow dryer to thaw out the pipes? A space heater will also work, but you have to keep a close watch on it, depending on where your water heater is located (in or out side). You can wrap pipes with old rags or newspaper, then just tape them together OR tie with a string. That's how they did it in the days BEFORE all this fancy pre-made insulation & special tapes that Home Depot is selling! I remember my Mother pouring hot boiling water over the faucets & on the pipes to thaw them out quickly. You could try that, depending on the severeity of the freeze in your pipes. Good luck, my neighbor had a pipe break 2 days ago & since we are Californians, we had the water turned off at the main valve & then we were left with the question of the water heater. The water co said to turn off the water heater, while the gas company said that we should leave it on. We decided to just put it on the vacation setting until the pipe was fixed to avoid having to deal with more frozen pipes! Good Luck...stay warm!
2007-01-17 10:34:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First turn off the water at the source. If the pipe burst while frozen you'll have water damage on top of your busted pipe.
A hairdrier works to thaw out frozen pipes, or put a space heater in the room where the pipes are frozen.
Good luck.... frozen pipes suck.
2007-01-17 10:20:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let your faucets run a drip, Pipes freeze because water is not moving. Hot water lines freeze most, its a science question. Use a blow dryer on your pipes. Bye pipe installation or improvise and wrap newspaper with duct tape.
2007-01-17 17:06:21 · answer #4 · answered by david 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put the kettle on, and water on the stove til it is hotThen put some cold water in as well, not to much. Then put the water over the pipes it should start to thaw the pipes. repeat it over til it melts the pipes.
2007-01-17 10:31:04 · answer #5 · answered by smiley 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can rent an electric device at the rental store. You place a clamp on the pipes and turn it on. The electricity heats the pipes. This is the safest way and its what the plumbers use.
2007-01-17 10:24:29 · answer #6 · answered by ec1177 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a blow dryer, and blow the hot air on the pipes. Works all the time. may be a little time consuming, but whats more of an issue wasting, time or money?
2007-01-17 10:20:01 · answer #7 · answered by xstreetplayax101 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All your answers are right but that's not going to be your problem. After the pipes thaw they are going to be busted and leak
2007-01-17 11:28:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
put a blanket on them when its cold outside, and do not, i repeat DO NOT put hot water on them, the rapid temperature change will make them crakc or burst, sorry if thats all the advise i can give u
2007-01-17 10:20:38 · answer #9 · answered by Josh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you can get to them, shine a heat lamp on them. My pipes are all exposed, so this worked pretty well for me!
2007-01-17 10:19:09 · answer #10 · answered by margarita 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋