How to Thaw a Frozen Pipe

11/19/2020 (Permalink)

With winter quickly approaching, a leading cause of water damage is due to pipes that freeze and break.  Pipes tend to freeze in low temperatures or in areas of the property where there is little or no insulation.

Thawing frozen pipes can prevent severe water damage during this winter season.  Below, we list some tips from the American Red Cross on the proper techniques when dealing with a frozen pipe.

• Keep the faucet open. This will allow water to slowly start flowing through the frozen pipe, melting the interior of the pipe.
• Apply heat to the pipe until the water pressure is recovered.  A hair dryer, electric heating pad or hot towels are all sufficient options for unfreezing the affected area.
• Do not use any equipment with an open flame to thaw a pipe, such as a propane heater.
• If it is difficult to thaw the pipe, call a certified plumber in order to resolve the issue.
• It is critical to inspect other faucets in order to ensure they aren’t experiencing the same problem.

Treating frozen pipes can prevent water damage such as flooding in your home when the temperatures drop.  Should you experience water damage this winter, SERVPRO of Kennett Square/Oxford is prepared to offer immediate assistance!  Our water restoration team can handle any size water damage event, which are often due to frozen pipes this time of year.  We hope that these precautions will help to eliminate this issue in your own home or business.  For assistance with any water damage, please feel free to contact us at 610-268-8620.