Frozen PIPES?

Question

Chicago Northwest Burbs - We just experienced overnight what frozen pipes can do. My main for the house is in the fully finished basement layed with concrete. We have about 3" hole to work with that is covered with insulation. I tried a torch to heat the pipes up, however didn't want to burn the insulation. My gut tells me the frozen section is completely under the concrete or underground outside. I'd like to resolve the issue myself due to lack of money. I am currently trying a space heater to see if that might help, however don't want to wait for the spring thaw. Folks have any recommendations what I should do?

Answer 1

no water to the house at all would indicate the main is frozen. Since it's in the basement I don't think it is frozen outside. Make yourself a bigger hole to work in, put some kind of access panel over it afterwards. Move the insulation out of the way as best as you can, open a tap upstairs and give it the torch. If you don't open the wall up more chances are it won't get much heat. If you have a drop ceiling in your basement, take some ceiling tiles out near the water main and crank the heat up, or try heating the pipe with the torch from in there.

Answer 2

First, You are Wrong, the fully liquid section is under the concrete, because it receives it heat from the earth below which is a constant 50 degrees. I too, live just south of Chicago.

Place a regular fan blown electric heater onto the area even though its only a hole, It will probably unthaw in a day or less with that heater on it. Be careful, shut off the water, those copper pipes might have burst in the wall, just waiting for a thaw to spring a flood on you.

Another solution, is to got rent a 110 volt arc welder at RentAll and hook one end of cable at both ends of suspected length of copper pipe. The set the welder for about 10 or so amps and trn it on. The pipe will surely unthaw in about 15 minutes or less. This is a commonly used method, so im not inventing it here.

Answer 3

I worked for a plumber/landlord, it was in the lease that the tenant was responsible. He would wrap the house if it was off the ground, but he expected you to drain the pipes before a freeze. He could not very well do this for you, unless he cut the water off early in the day. Edit: also there is nothing that can be done about anyway until they thaw out. There is no way to thaw the pipes all the way to the supply line.

Answer 4

It is best to thaw them slowly , or you risk the pipes bursting. You can use electrical heating cables around your pipes , or something as simple as a hair dryer . I would suggest using something with low heat to thaw them , but check and make sure that the freeze is not in the mains, you might have to call the water department. Other than this , I agree that you should let your water drip a bit, it does stop the freezing process.

Answer 5

You Can Rent a pipe thawer very Easy to use you will also need a water curb key. 1st you have to find the curb box for water then insert key ont valve at the bottom of curb box hook 1 lead to it then take the other lead and clamp it to water line before the meter turn machine on should take about 1/2 hour to thaw it.

Answer 6

If the main is metal, you can rent a unit that puts electrical current through the pipe,heating it enough to free the blockage.If you don't feel you have the competence to do this yourself,call around and get a professional to do it.

Answer 7

A little advice, from now on, everytime there is warnings of a freeze, make sure you run your taps all over the house, they just need to be trickling. When your faucets are turned off, the water is just sitting in the pipe so it freezes, if its running it wont.

Answer 8

Try pouring a pot of boiling water along the pipe.

It works in most cases, don't ask me why.