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Even when outdoor temperatures start to drop, people can typically depend on cozier conditions in their homes. So, it鈥檚 all the more annoying when winter manages to slip inside and cause trouble. A particularly frustrating problem is when the pipes of your plumbing system freeze up. Handling frozen pipes can range from inconvenient to a widespread, costly mess. 

Many people prefer to call their plumber to take care of frozen pipes, and that鈥檚 never a bad idea. But you can also thaw them out yourself with just a few items from your house. To help you resolve this irritating plumbing problem, here鈥檚 a step-by-step guide for thawing frozen pipes. 

Step 1: Locate the Frozen Pipes 

The first and sometimes most time-consuming step is locating the frozen pipes. Turning on all your faucets may help you narrow down likely locations. If one faucet isn鈥檛 running, you can follow those specific plumbing lines and hopefully find the frozen pipes. The pipes themselves might not be obvious to spot unless ice is visibly covering them. 

Instead, you can move your hands along the plumbing until you feel a sudden drop in temperature. Once you鈥檝e found where the plumbing is coldest, you鈥檝e probably found the frozen pipes. 

This method won鈥檛 work if every faucet isn鈥檛 running. You鈥檒l need to check the main water line at this point because it鈥檚 the source of your home鈥檚 water supply. Each set of plumbing lines will gradually lead back to the water main. You鈥檒l likely find yours in the basement or crawlspace. But if your home doesn鈥檛 have either of those things, try near the water heater or in the garage next. If you still can鈥檛 find it, go and find your home鈥檚 water meter on an exterior wall, as the main line can often be found on the other side. 

Step 2: Flush Your Plumbing System 

After verifying the pipes are frozen, turn off the main water supply. You can鈥檛 thaw the pipes with ice cold water on the inside, so you鈥檒l also want to run every faucet if you haven鈥檛 already. This flushes the leftover water from the plumbing. Toilets will need to be flushed as well. 

Once the plumbing is drained of water, it鈥檚 time to begin the thawing process. Gather a few things before you begin: 

• A source of heat: This can be a hair dryer, a heat lamp, a heating pad or even just a bucket of hot water. 
• Some towels or cloths: Spare rags can help apply heat onto the frozen pipes. Or, if the pipes have broken, they can help you mop up. 

Step 3: Use Slow, Even Heat 

You shouldn鈥檛 heat up the pipes too fast, as that could damage your plumbing. Depending on your heat source, start at the edges of the frozen area. This keeps the process slow and consistent. Also, do your best to heat the pipes closest to the nearest kitchen or bathroom faucet. If any steam or water is produced by the heating process, it鈥檒l head in that direction. 

Slowly inch your way along the pipe, heating sections a bit at a time. Some homeowners will also turn up their thermostats, using the warmer air to evenly thaw all the pipes silmultaneously. As long as this is done slowly, it shouldn鈥檛 be a problem. With a bit of luck, you鈥檒l have successfully thawed your frozen pipes. But there鈥檚 one more step to complete. 

Step 4: Reopen the Water Main and Check for Leaks 

Return to the water main. Open the supply line, but only a little. This delivers enough water to check for leaks without causing a mess. A leak will be fairly obvious to spot, and you should shut the water main off again if you do. At this point, it鈥檚 usually best to contact a plumber. They鈥檒l have the tools and experience to resolve the damage, including replacing the broken pipes. 

If there鈥檚 not a leak, however, you can open the main water line the rest of the way before getting to all the faucets. 

Frozen Pipe FAQ 

Sometimes thawing out frozen pipes is a little more complex. Let鈥檚 talk about some of the most likely complications and what you can do to work around them. 

How long should it take to drain a frozen pipe? 

30 to 45 minutes is a good average, with more serious icing requiring extra time. Don鈥檛 try to speed the process up with more heat as this could damage the plumbing and make the problem worse. 

What should I do if a pipe bursts or leaks? 

Without the proper tools and experience, it鈥檚 better to call a trusted plumber in the U.S.. Not only can they repair things more quickly and effectively, but they鈥檒l have a better chance of noticing if other plumbing problems are nearby. 

How can I reach frozen pipes if they鈥檙e behind walls? 

A lot of your plumbing is installed behind walls, making them somewhat tricky to thaw out. Heating the closest accessible area might work, or you could try heating the section of the wall closest to the frozen pipes. Heat lamps and your thermostat will be the best options. If these don鈥檛 work, you might have to take out a section of the wall to get close enough to begin the thawing process. 

How to Prevent Pipes from Freezing 

The ideal way to thaw frozen pipes is to stop them from icing over in the first place. Pipes closest to unheated spaces or the outside of your home are at the most risk. It鈥檚 not impossible for other pipes to freeze over, but this is less common as they鈥檙e usually close to insulation or between the floors of your home where it鈥檚 warm. 

Here are some things you can do to reduce the risk of pipes freezing: 

1. Keep your home warmer than 55 degrees: You鈥檒l almost certainly prefer warmer temperatures than this, but 55 degrees or more is a good rule of thumb if you won鈥檛 be home. 

2. Insulate your pipes with electric pipe heat tape or insulation wrap: These materials keep pipes warm, significantly reducing the risk they鈥檒l freeze over. 

3. Keep a small amount of water trickling through the plumbing: Flowing water is much more difficult to freeze than still water. You鈥檒l want to do this with every faucet, and your water bill shouldn鈥檛 spike. 

4. Open cabinets and other doors to ensure even heat distribution: Closed doors and cabinets are quite good at keeping heat out. Leave these open in serious cold to keep warm air moving freely. 

If you stick to these steps, you鈥檒l either stop pipes from freezing or have a straightforward way of thawing them out. If you鈥檇 prefer to leave the work to a professional, call your nearest plumber in the U.S.. They鈥檒l make sure your plumbing is taken care of safely.