As temperatures drop below zero, excess water inside your pipes could freeze and expand causing a blockage. This can stop your heating and hot water from working properly.
In the worst-case scenario, your pipe could burst and cause a leak or flooding inside your home. To prevent this happening, make sure you know where your stopcock is so that you can shut off your water in an emergency.
If you think that one of your pipes might be frozen, here are are some tips to fix it:
1. Find the frozen pipe
- Turn on your hot and cold taps. If no water comes out, or only a slight trickle comes out, then your pipe is most likely frozen.
- Check any pipes that are exposed, such as under sinks, in basements or along the outside of the house.
- Frozen pipes may have frost on them, or they may have a slight bulge.
2. Open the taps
- Make sure that before you attempt to thaw a frozen pipe, you open the tap that the pipe feeds water into.
- Open both the hot and cold taps – this will help to relieve pressure in the system and allow water to escape.
3. Thaw it out
- Important! Don’t start thawing close to the blockage. This could cause pressure to build and would increase the chances of the pipe bursting.
- Begin to thaw the pipe closest to the tap and work down to the blockage – this helps the melting ice or steam to escape (see ways to thaw exposed pipes below).
- Don’t forget to close the taps, once the pipe is thawed, and water starts to flow through again.
How to thaw pipes
- Hair dryer: One of the easiest ways to thaw a pipe is by using a hair dryer on the lowest setting. Turn the dryer on and point the heat at the pipe, beginning with the portion closest to the tap. As with any electrical product, take the proper precautions and avoid coming into contact with water when using the hairdryer.
- Hot towels or hot water bottle: Wrap towels that have been dipped in hot water or a hot water bottle around the pipe. This can help to slowly thaw the blockage.
- Turn the heat up indoors: If your pipe is not exposed, turn the heat up in your home. You can try to thaw the frozen pipe by increasing the temperature in your home. Turning the thermostat up may be all that is needed to allow the ice blockage to melt.
- Important! Never attempt to thaw a pipe using an open flame. This can damage the pipe and can also start a fire in your home.
Need emergency help?
If you find yourself in need of help, we are open for emergency repairs over the festive period. Please contact us if you are in need of emergency assistance.