If the temperature continues to stay below freezing, the liquid will continue to expand causing it to rupture the pipe at its weakest point. But do frozen pipes always burst in this situation? No – but without some attention and maintenance, you increase the risk that it will happen.
While it is possible for pipes to freeze and thaw without causing any problems, water freezing within a pipe expands, raises pressure inside of the pipe, and may cause a burst pipe.
And once the temperature outside dips below 32F, unprotected pipes are at a greater risk of freezing and potentially bursting. That said, it's still possible for your pipes to thaw without bursting. The key is to release the pressure and allow the pipes to thaw slowly.
Do Frozen Pipes Always Burst? Thankfully, no. But ice does build up inside pipes, blocking unfrozen water from flowing. Pipes made of copper, steel, PVC, PEX and other plastics are all susceptible to freezing, with copper being the most vulnerable to ruptures when frozen.
Pipes are most likely to burst when exposed to below-freezing conditions for six hours or more, which can happen throughout winter and early spring. Burst pipes could lead to a disaster, bringing severe water damage to your home.
Not only can frozen pipes prevent water from flowing properly, but they can potentially burst and cause flooding to your home. With this in mind, it's crucial that homeowners know what to do if pipes freeze.
In fact, turning up the heat might lead to a burst pipe or other damage. Call an expert plumber immediately if you suspect the pipes in your home have frozen.
If the pipes have frozen and burst, a plumber can fix them. If the pipes are frozen but have not burst, a plumber can remedy them by applying a heat gun to thaw them. For an interim solution, a homeowner could use a hair dryer to start the thawing process.
If you suspect that a pipe has frozen, turn off the water to the affected area and call a plumber. There are a few things you can do to try to unfreeze a pipe yourself. One option is to use a hair dryer or heat gun to warm the pipe from the outside. You can also try running hot water through the pipe.
Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water.
Call a Qualified Plumber for Frozen Pipe Repair
Even if a frozen pipe seems fine, it might have cracked or burst somewhere you can't see, meaning it will leak once thawed. If the pipe did not burst or leak, it may have been weakened by the pressure of the ice.
As long as your frozen pipes haven't burst, a plumber will likely charge a flat fee of around $100 to thaw them out. However, the cost to repair burst pipes tends to be much higher and will ultimately depend on the extent of the damage. Expect to pay $500 on average, which includes the diagnosis and the repair itself.
Of all the pipes that can freeze in your home, frozen water lines to the toilet create the most inconvenience. A toilet won't flush with frozen pipes. You can clear it once using water already stored in the tank, but you have to pour water in the bowl to flush again until you can thaw the toilet pipes.
DON'T use a blowtorch or open flame to thaw a pipe
In addition to being dangerous, using a blowtorch to melt a frozen pipe may actually damage the pipe, Davis explained — making matters much worse.
As the water in pipes freezes, it expands, creating as much as 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch, enough to cause almost any pipe filled with water to rupture. The bad news is that a burst pipe can releases hundreds of gallons of water per hour, causing thousands of dollars in damage to repair.
What temperature do pipes freeze in a house? We all know that freezing begins at 32° F or 0° C, but at what point do pipes freeze within our own homes? Temperatures only need to drop to about 20° F for a few hours to put exposed pipes at risk.
If the pipe is behind a wall, you can turn up the thermostat and wait for the thaw. Or you can hook up a lamp to warm the area. Infrared lights work best because they don't warm the air, just the pipes behind the wall. If the pipe is exposed, you can heat it with a hairdryer.
Use a hair dryer or heat gun to slowly thaw the pipe.
If the pipe is exposed and you have a section that's frozen, turn on a hair dryer and run it back and forth along the frozen pipe. Keep it moving and do not place the dryer directly against the pipe, as uneven or sudden heating can rupture the pipe.
Simply pour a handful of salt down your drain pipe, quickly followed by boiling water. Alternatively, boil the water in a saucepan and stir the salt in the boiling water. Once the salt has completely dispersed, carefully pour it down the drain.
DURING freezing weather:
If you plan to be away from home for several days, shutting off the water can reduce the chances of broken pipes. Set your home heat to at least 55 degrees. Shut off water to the house and open all faucets to drain pipes; flush the toilet once to drain the tank, but not the bowl.
The same cold temperatures that caused your pipes to freeze in the first place could persist for days or even weeks. Without intervention, your pipes probably won't thaw out until a significant change in the weather occurs. In Anoka, you might be waiting for months for your pipes to defrost naturally.
Frozen pipes may thaw on their own, but not without substantial damage. Letting your pipes thaw on their own may result in major water damage and broken plumbing. Rather than learning how to let your frozen pipes thaw, it's smarter to learn how to prevent them from freezing in the first place.