What to do if a pipe bursts.
How to thaw pipes in attic.
Use a space heater heat lamp or hair dryer to thaw the frozen length of pipe.
Frozen pipe will feel very cold while pipe with free flowing water will feel notably warmer.
Locate the frozen pipe the first step to thaw frozen pipes is to locate the section of pipe and turn off the local water supply to it.
Do not overheat the pipe in the same spot but keep it moving over the surface like if you were spray painting.
This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.
Open the door to the attic to allow warm air to move up if you have pipes in the attic.
Don t thaw pipes using a propane torch which presents a fire risk.
Put on rubber gloves and soak towels in hot water.
Let water trickle from faucets.
Again keep it moving.
The small amount of water you waste is much less than the cost of a plumbing repair or the amount of water that will escape if a pipe bursts.
Where does the wate.
Keep pouring hot water over the open valve until water begins to flow.
Any exposed pipes should be insulated using pipe sleeves heat cable or heat tape.
A trickle of hot and cold.
To determine whether a section of pipe is frozen simply feel it.
Never use a blowtorch kerosene or propane heater charcoal stove or other open flame device and keep space heaters at least a few feet from the pipe.
Throw salt sand or soil into the water you spill in the path.
Ring them out then wrap them securely around the frozen section of pipe.
Do not leave cold wet towels around the pipes.
Heat the area until full water pressure is restored.
The flowing water will prevent pipes from freezing.
In this video house flipping brothers dave and rich show you how to thaw frozen pipes.
A heat gun is preferable to a hairdryer if you have one close at hand like a hairdryer on steroids.
The key is to know how your plumbing system works.
Use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
Drain water from swimming pools and irrigation supply lines close valves supplying outdoor hose bibs then open exterior bibs to allow lines to drain check for any supply lines in unheated areas including the attic garage and in crawl spaces.
Continue to pour warm water onto it until you can open and close the valve.
Replace with freshly soaked hot towels every 5 10 minutes until the pipe thaws.
Wrapping freezing pipes with thermostatically controlled heat tape from 50 to 200 depending on length is also an effective way to quickly thaw a trouble spot.
