How do you thaw frozen pipes without access?

Author: Dorthy Schiller IV  |  Last update: Sunday, March 23, 2025

For hidden pipes: Use an infrared lamp to target frozen areas. You may need to make an opening in your wall to access the pipe. For exposed pipes: Use a hair dryer, infrared lamp, portable heater, heating pad, heat tape, or steamed towels to apply heat (never use an open flame).

How do you unfreeze pipes you can't see?

Apply heat to the frozen area

There are several ways to do this. You can wrap the pipes in thermostatically controlled heat tape, or you can use an external heat source such as a hair dryer or space heater.

What is the quickest way to thaw frozen pipes?

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.

Will pouring hot water down drain unfreeze pipes?

The job goes more quickly by pouring hot water or a mixture of vinegar, baking soda and salt water down the drain. Space heaters, hair dryers and heating pads are highly efficient tools for unfreezing a drain pipe. If a frozen drain line ruptures, turn off your home's main water supply.

Is it OK to let frozen pipes thaw on their own?

Frozen Pipes Shouldn't Be Allowed to Thaw on Their Own

The laws of physics say water always takes up more volume as it freezes. When your pipes can no longer contain the expanding ice, they will burst. This not only breaks the pipes and makes your plumbing system unusable, it may cause serious water damage as well.

How to Thaw Frozen pipes without any tools

Should you open faucets if pipes are frozen?

Thawing Frozen Pipes

While you wait, reduce water pressure by opening all the faucets inside the home one-quarter turn. Water will begin to trickle out, helping the ice to thaw. Remember to close all faucets after full water pressure is restored.

What to do if your pipes freeze overnight?

Thaw Frozen Pipes

Turn off the water immediately at the main shut off valve. Open the faucet so that water will flow through the pipe once the area is melted. This will help melt more ice. Apply heat to or around the pipe using a hair dryer.

How to tell if a drain pipe is frozen?

  1. 5 Signs You Might Have a Frozen Drain Pipe. thogan. ...
  2. 1 Visible frost on a pipe. ...
  3. 2 Strange sounds coming from the pipes. ...
  4. 3 Unpleasant smells from the pipes. ...
  5. 4 Weak water pressure or no running water at all. ...
  6. 5 Keep an eye out for leaks.

Will turning up the heat unfreeze pipes?

Turn the Heat Upin the Property: You can attempt to thaw the frozen pipe by increasing the temperature in the property. Turning the thermostat up may be all that is needed to allow the ice blockage to melt.

How to find which pipe is frozen?

If all faucets and water fixtures on the same floor are not working, the frozen pipe would be where the water line for the first and second floors separate. If none of the faucets and water fixtures in the house are working, then the frozen water is likely to be in the main water pipe that supplies water to the house.

How much does it cost for a plumber to unfreeze pipes?

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.

What do you do if your hot water pipe is frozen but not cold?

Open a Hot Water Valve

By opening faucets, water will have a path to flow as the pipe unfreezes. Steam will also need a place to go as heat is applied. As the pipe thaws, running water will accelerate the defrosting process. Therefore, it's beneficial to have faucets running until the pipe is completely thawed.

How long do pipes take to unfreeze?

An increase in indoor temperatures can help unfreeze all your indoor pipes, whereas your outdoor pipes may take longer. In many cases though, using the right heating tools can unfreeze your pipes in a matter of 30-45 minutes.

How to tell if an outside faucet is frozen?

If you suspect that your outdoor faucet is frozen, there are a few ways to tell. First, check the temperature of the faucet; if it is cold to the touch, this could be a sign that it has frozen. Additionally, if water isn't coming out when you turn on the tap, this could also indicate freezing.

Do pipes burst when they freeze or thaw?

Although common, frozen pipes do not always burst. However, the ice can increase this risk when it thaws and is usually worsened as it raises pressure further which makes pipe bursting common near winter's end or springtime. Furthermore, the more water flowing through the pipe, the greater chance of rupture.

How to thaw a pipe you cannot access?

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.

Should I turn my faucet on if my pipes are frozen?

We repeat: keep your faucets open and your water turned off while pipes thaw! Keeping the faucets open will also expedite the thawing process and allow the thawing ice to run through the pipes.

How do you unfreeze pipes without bursting them?

If you have frozen pipes in your home, it can be tempting to try to heat them up as quickly as possible, but this could cause them to burst. Instead, use tools like a hairdryer, space heater, and even your home's thermostat to gradually warm the pipes.

Will my pipes unfreeze on their own?

Pipes will eventually unfreeze on their own naturally, but this takes far more time and before thawing occurs the freezing could become much worse. This could eventually lead to the pipe bursting and causing significantly more damage. It's better to proactively thaw a frozen pipe size than let it persist.

Can you pour boiling water down a frozen drain pipe?

The answer is “yes” if the frozen pipe is a drain pipe. We cover several other thawing techniques you might want to consider using if you're dealing with frozen water lines. Below we'll discuss the proper method for pouring hot water down frozen pipes, as well as additional thawing tips to try.

What to do if you suspect your pipes are frozen?

Open any faucets connected to frozen pipes to relieve pressure. Faucets should be open but not fully open. If frozen pipes are exposed and visible, use a hair dryer or space heater to thaw ice blockages. Do not use an open flame.

Do you drip faucets during a freeze?

Should You Drip Faucets In Cold Weather? Yes, according to the Red Cross, the short answer to that question is you should.

How long does pipe freeze last?

How long will the pipe freezing last? Once the pipe freezer is turned off or removed, it takes from 10 to 30 minutes for an ice plug to melt. Periodically topping up the gas, or keeping gas flowing on a reduced trickle, will ensure the ice plug remains solid and does not melt.

Will salt thaw a frozen drain?

Tip #9: Hot Water and Salt Can Thaw Drainpipes

While we didn't have any issue with our drainpipes, our plumber also gave us this bit of advice: If your drainpipes freeze, boil a kettle of hot water. Stir a cup of kosher salt into the hot water, then pour the concoction down the frozen drain.

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