FROZEN PIPES
- Shut off the
water at the main shutoff valve and open the faucet nearest to the frozen pipe
so it can drain as it thaws.
- Waterproof the
area with containers and plastic drop clothes in case leaks occur.
- Use one of the
following methods to gradually warm the frozen pipe. Be sure to work from the
faucet toward the iced-up area.
- Propane Torch
with a flame-spreading-nozzle, the torch will quickly thaw a frozen pipe.
- Safety Tip:
Shield flammable areas with a fireproof sheet and don't let the pipe get too
hot to touch.
- Use a hair dryer
like the torch; a dryer will gently defrost the pipe.
- Wrap a heating
pad around a length of pipe.
- Try using heat
lamps for pipes behind walls, floors, or ceilings. Beam a heat lamp 8 or more
inches from the surface.
- If no other
method is available, wrap the pipe (except plastic) in rags and pour boiling
water on it.