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Tips for Thawing a Frozen Pipe

February 09, 2021

If you experience a frozen pipe, these steps may help you thaw the ice blockage.

  1. Know where your water shutoff is.  Ice may have damaged your pipe, which could cause a leak as the ice begins to thaw.
  2. Try to find the frozen section of pipe.  Check exposed pipe under your house, in a crawl space, or in an attic or basement and look for signs the pipe may be frozen.  These signs include frost on the outside of the pipe or bulginf pipe.
  3. You can try to identify enclosed frozen pipes by testing all sinks, showers, tubs, etc. to try to narrow down where/which pipes may be frozen.
  4. Before beginning to try and thaw a frozen pipe, open both hot and cold faucets that pipe serves.  If it is the main line into the house, open one or two faucets.  Begin thawing the pipe closest to the faucet(s).
  5. If you think the frozen pipe is enclosed in a wall, a simple solution may be to turn up the heat, and ensure any cabinets  near the pipe are open to allow the warmer air to circulate near the pipe.  Another option is to point an infrared lamp at the wall containing the pipe.
  6. For exposed pipes, you can try using a hair dryer, a heat lamp, a portable heater, or electrical heating tape.  Be sure to follow all manufacturer's directions and observe proper usage of electrical appliances and other heat producing equipment.
  7. DO NOT use torches or other open flames to try and thaw a pipe.  These carry a risk of fire or of damage to the pipe.
  8. If all else fails, or you are uncomfortable thwing the pipe yourself, call a licensed plumber.

When using any heat source to thaw the frozen pipe, you can run the risk of starting a fire.  Make sure to follow all safety instructions and never leave the product unattended.  A frozen pipe can burst due to ice buildup within the pipe,  Improper thawing can also burst a pipe or cause leaks.

If you are unable to thaw the pipe, unable to locate the frozen pipe, do not feel comfortable thawing a pipe yourself or if a pipe bursts, you should call a licensed plumber.  They will be able to remedy the problem for you.