Heat guns are highly efficient in thawing sections of frozen pipes. Below is a guide on how to effectively and safely use the tool to keep the water in your home running all winter. Don't use an open flame tool, such as that from a blow torch which creates a fire hazard.
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.
With the safe Hot-Shot pipe thawer, you can accomplish the job faster and easier – and save time and money. Just carry your Hot-Shot to the job, attach the pipe clamps and plug it into any convenient 115 volt receptacle. In a matter of minutes, the frozen pipe will begin flowing again.
Apply heat to the frozen area
Slowly apply heat using a hair dryer. 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.
Things You Should Know
Warm the pipe with a blow dryer and wrap electrical pipe tape around it to thaw a pipe. Insulate your home and keep the heat on so that it stays at least 55 °F (13 °C) during winter to keep pipes from freezing.
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.
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.
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.
Apply heat to the pipe.
You can also use a small heater or heat lamp. If there is no electrical outlet, boil some water and soak a few towels in it. Wrap the pipe with these towels. When the towels cool, repeat the process until the pipe is completely thawed.
Prevent Frozen Pipes
Moving water keeps pipes from freezing. Find shut off valves for emergencies. Insulate pipes in unheated areas. Open cupboards and vanities to warm pipes.
Vinegar. Pour one cup of vinegar down the pipe immediately after putting baking soda. Vinegar reacts with soda, causing it to sizzle and bubble. This solution will agitate frost build up and slowly start to clear your frozen shower drain.
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.
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.
Should You Drip Faucets In Cold Weather? Yes, according to the Red Cross, the short answer to that question is you should.
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.
Pipe-thawing options: There are several things you can do to thaw your home's pipes. Here's a list: Probably the most popular and safest pipe-thawing option is to use hot water.
#1: Use baking soda and vinegar
Let it sit for an hour or more (or overnight if you suspect the blockage is really bad) and then flush with hot water. In theory, the blockage should be gone but repeat the process if you experience further problems.
Pipes typically burst when exposed to extremely low temperatures for an extended period of time (anywhere from 1-3 days depending on temperature). This is especially true for pipes located on exterior walls. A frozen pipe is likely to burst when any water or liquid trapped within it freezes and begins to expand.
The question of dripping every faucet needs context. You can drip just one if it's further from the water line. If you are unsure where that is, dripping all of them is a good option. It might cost you extra on your water bill, but plumbing repair and damage of a busted pipe in your home could cost even more.
Turn on all faucets: Checking each faucet in your home will help you narrow down your search. The faucets that have little or no water pressure likely have a frozen pipe in their supply line. If every faucet is showing low water pressure, the frozen pipe may be near the water meter.
If your pipes have been frozen for more than two days, shut down your home's water supply. Locate the frozen length using touch, sight and sound. Make sure the pipe hasn't burst, and open indoor faucets. Unfreeze the pipe using a hair dryer, heat tape, space heater or heating pad.
Shut Off Your Water Supply. Ask any plumber, "Should I turn off the water if pipes are frozen?" and they'll immediately tell you, "Yes." Locate your main water line and switch the shut-off valve so the flow of water stops. By doing this, you'll reduce the amount of pressure that builds inside your frozen pipes.
A foul smell from the drain or faucet is a less-obvious warning sign. Odors are unable to filter out of the frozen pipe and instead are forced back into the home's faucet. No water or a slow trickle when a faucet is used. Whistling and banging coming from pipes, or strange bubbling sounds when you flush a toilet.