5 Tips on How to Prevent and Thaw Frozen Pipes

There is always a hint of disaster during the winter. A serious risk during this season includes unnoticed frozen water pipes that can cause millions of dollars in damages. So, the best you can do during this time is to check your water pipes now and then. However, if you and your family love to go on vacation during the coldest season, make sure to set preventive measures for your water wipes so you won't be coming back to an intensely drenched house. Before you go on a long vacation, you should call your local plumber Bankstown for advice on how to help prevent your water pipes from freezing.

But, if you will be staying at home for the entire season and suspect a frozen pipe, here are a few tips that could definitely help you.

Turn up the heat in your house

If you suspect a frozen pipe behind the surface or the wall within either your kitchen or bathroom, try to turn up the heat inside your house and wait until the water is flowing right out of your faucet. And if you think that the frozen pipe could be behind your sink cabinet or your kitchen cabinets, then you should also open its doors as you continuously try to turn up the heat in your house. If your assumption is right, then automatically your frozen pipe will be thawed and water flow will be back to normal.

Use an infrared lamp

Infrared lamps are those kinds of lamps that are used in ovens and other compact heat sources. The heat from that lamp can penetrate a wall which allows the frozen pipe to defrost. These kinds of lamps are better than incandescent (although this could also be used in case of availability) because they radiate through the air and directly warm the wall and frozen pipe, specifically. They are safer to use because there is less chance of overheating the wall and break its materials in the process.

Just make sure to put the infrared lamp near where you suspect the frozen pipe is located.

Use a hairdryer

For exposed frozen pipes, heating it using an electric hairdryer is the easiest and safest way to thaw a pipe. Although, don't place it too near to the pipe. But if your pipe is placed directly into a wall, place a cookie sheet behind the pipe to also heat the backside of the pipe. Once the ice melts, you can immediately turn off your hairdryer. Check if it works by opening your faucet connected to that pipe.

Wrap an electric heat tape

An electric heat tape is used to prevent pipes from freezing during winter just like how we dress layers of clothing to keep ourselves warm. Heat tapes are popular because it is affordable and it works well. It is a heat-conducting wire which uses electricity to produce heat that will help keep our pipes warm. There are several kinds of electric heat tape that goes with a specific material. Before buying one, you should check your pipes first or if you are entirely unsure, better call a professional plumber to help you.

Place hot towels on top of the pipe

This solution would take time to effect but works just as effective. Although this is the least recommended way to thaw your frozen pipe. The way it works is simple. If you don't have a hairdryer or any other heating options (that are non-flammable), just place a few hot-soaked towels on top of the frozen pipe and then wait until it works. You probably need to do this a lot of times before you can thaw a frozen pipe and it is very time-consuming.