Frozen pipes are one of the most common, costly and avoidable ways winter can wreak havoc on your home. A burst pipe isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a hazard that could cause extensive water damage to a home if not properly addressed.

Once temperatures are below freezing, water pipes can freeze up in just a matter of hours, especially in buildings that are not well-insulated or properly climate-controlled.

Pipes that are most vulnerable to freezing tend to be those exposed directly to cold weather, like outdoor hoses and sprinkler lines; water supply pipes in unheated areas, like basements, attics and crawl spaces; and pipes that run along exterior walls.

If the pipes in a building do freeze, there are ways to get things thawed back out before any real damage is done. The American Red Cross recommends the following tips to identify frozen pipes and get things flowing again:

  • If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle of water comes out, that likely means the pipe is frozen. The most common places for frozen pipes are against exterior walls and where your water service enters the building through the foundation.
  • Once you realize you have a frozen pipe, keep that faucet open. As you deal with the situation and the pipe begins to melt, water will start flowing through the frozen area. Leaving the faucet open allows running water to assist in melting the ice.
  • Apply heat to the frozen section of pipe using a heating pad, hair dryer, space heater or by wrapping them with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or any other kind of open flame.
  • Keep heat on the pipes until the flow is restored and water pressure returns to normal.
  • Check all of the other faucets in your home to make sure you have no additional frozen pipes.

If you are unable to locate the area in which a pipe is frozen or have trouble thawing a frozen pipe once you find it, contact a licensed plumber for assistance.

In the slideshow above, we’ll look at tips from the Red Cross about how to protect your pipes from freezing this winter and keep your home safe from preventable water damage.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.