My sisters pipes have been frozen for 4 days now..she lives in a trailer...how do we get them to unfreeze?

Question

The pipes are accesable and under the trailer..but...putting heaters down there is a fire hazard any other ideas? Is there any professional we can call out?

Answer 1

if her drier vent runs out under the trailer turn it on the heat will thaw it out but will take awhile.

Answer 2

I'm in Canada so I'm not going to ask where you are. when the problem is gone email me and I'll sen some hints to help it not happen next year.

some light bulbs down there away from wood and other flameable. A smoke detector is a must or a couple for peace of mind if nothing else. Some kind of wind break, Hair dryers or paint removal guns wound but dont leave unattendended.

I was a subway mechanic so electrician was part of my training, prevention is always than cure

If you may be they there next year Email me and will see what I can send you including some video from the Canadian Gov and lot of ways to monitor the pipe temp and only turn on warming coils when needed. If you need the designed from scratch so be it I was a scout long time ago and will not charge to help someone.

You've got a year to find stuff so your total cost should be close to nothing 0.

As for the trailer insults, my brother chooses to live so far in the woods he generates his own electricity when he wants it. He just happens to be the Canada'a leading expert on medical LASERs

Answer 3

I don't know what region you are living in, but you might go to your local home improvement store and look into heating tape that wraps around the pipes. The tape is plugged into the outlet and it heats up the pipe. You can also get foam pipe wrap that is often use to keep hot water hot.

Once you get it open, you might find leaving a slight run on one of the faucets will keep the water running. If the water is moving, it wouldn't freeze in the pipes!

Good Luck!

Tom

Answer 4

Yes you can get them unfrozen and yes you should have a professional do it. It is not as simple as putting heaters on them because if they unfreeze unevenly, they will and do crack. Professional plumbers often do this or will refer you to the right place. It isn't as expensive as you might think in comparrison to replacing the total pipe system.

Consider having them insulated for the future too. Good luck!

Answer 5

Did she let the water drip? When you live in a trailer, on cold nights, anything below 20F, you need to let at least faucet drip or they will freeze. You may have to call a plumber if they don't unfreeze by themselves(when it warms up)and esp if they burst.
Good luck

Answer 6

There are actually heaters designed for that purpose,but I don't know what they are called.Check plumbing places and rental places(like taylor rental).Four days is a long time to be frozen.You may want a plumber to check to make sure none of them burst when they froze.Otherwise you could have a bigger disaster on your hands when they thaw out.Good luck!

Answer 7

they are going to leak.....if they are cracked from being frozen

get a 100 watt light bulb...or a trouble light from the hardware store...try to hang it up so its not on the ground...turn it on...

they also make heated tape for mobile homes...after your sure it dosent leak...wrap the heated tape around the pipe...plug it in the wall....if shes in a trailer park...ask the manager, if not...find a trailer park, and ask to speak to the repair man

Answer 8

Heat them just enough to unfreeze, then insulate them tightly. Outside pipes shouldn't be exposed.

Answer 9

I would try using a hair dryer .. might take a while ,, but you won't bust them with too much heat.... Then I would put insulation around them ..the foam type , and then even wrap that with tape, it can be purchased at any hardware store , Lowe's , Home Depot , etc.

HOPE THIS HELPS

GOOD LUCK
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Answer 10

Safest way is to defrost them slowly with a hair dryer. Keep faucet turned on for when the water starts to move.