Most of the time your water pipes begin to freeze when temperatures outside hit 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Without a heating source, your pipes will burst after 4-5 hours below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid this, please see the tips listed below Frozen Water Pipes.
- Leave your faucet slowly dripping overnight, especially if you will be out of town for a while
- Keep thermostat set at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- If you’re out of town, have a friend check on the temperature of your house to make sure it’s adequate
- Open cabinet doors to allow warmer air near uninsulated water pipes
- Insulate pipes in your home by calling Restoration 1 of Tulsa at 918-205-7764
How to fix Frozen Water Pipes ?
- Keep your faucet open. Keeping the faucet open also allows for moving water to run through the pipe, which will expedite the thawing process.
- Apply heat to the section of the pipe that is frozen. This can be done by wrapping an electronic heating pad around the pipe, heating the area with a hair dryer or both. If you lack either of these items, using towels soaked in hot water will help as well. Remember, this is a temporary fix and the heating pad should not be left unattended to prevent a fire.
- Know what not to do. Never use a blowtorch, propane or kerosene heaters, a charcoal stove or any other open flame device to thaw your frozen pipes. That presents a severe fire hazard. You should also avoid using a space heater unless you are sure the area is clear of any flammable material. Again, never leave the space heater unattended.
- Continue applying heat until water flow returns to normal. Once you have successfully thawed the pipe, turn on other faucets in your home to check for any more frozen water pipes.
- Take swift action if the frozen pipes are located inside an exterior wall. This is a serious situation when you should call a professional contractor, as repairs may involve cutting a hole in the wall toward the inside of the house to expose those pipes to warmer air.
