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Frozen Pipes: How to Take the Chill Out!
What
should you do if a water pipe freezes?
You should make sure it never happens
again! When the water freezes, it tries to expand inside the
pipe. It pushes against the sides of the pipe, as well as
any nearby valves, seams and faucets. The freezing action
of the water is more than capable of rupturing any pipe.
Unfortunately, a water pipe may freeze
even if you have taken precautions. Perhaps you lost electrical
power for several hours, the temperature inside your house
fell and the pipes froze. Or maybe you left on vacation, turned
down the heat and weren't expecting an early blizzard. Or
perhaps your heat tape quit working, and you didn't find out
until you discovered none of the faucets worked.
Whatever the cause, it's important
that you thaw out your pipe for two reasons:
- You almost certainly need the water.
- You should be at home when the pipe
thaws, just in case the pipe and/or joint is ruptured.
Bear in mind that a frozen pipe doesn't
leak - the water is ice. You'll discover you have a leak only
after the ice melts. If you're not home, a ruptured pipe can
cause a great deal of damage.
Here are some methods to thaw out
frozen pipes:
CAUTION!: Before you try
any of these methods, first open the faucet the frozen pipe
supplies. The steam you create while heating the pipe can
burst the pipe if it doesn't have an escape.
Method #1: Use electric heat tape on the pipe, and wait for it to thaw out. This is a good
method to use because it slowly thaws the pipe, which means
it reduces wear and tear on the pipe itself.
CAUTION!: Remember to use
only heat tape certified by a nationally recognized testing
laboratory for use with mobile homes. Be careful never to
wrap the heat tape back over itself. This could cause the
heat tape to overheat and start a fire.
Method #2: Wrap the pipe with
several layers of cloth or toweling and pour hot water over
the cloth / toweling. Repeat several times until the pipe
is unfrozen.
Method #3: Direct a heat lamp
on the pipe itself. Place the lamp at least a foot away from
the pipe. Cover adjacent areas with a layer of aluminum foil
so the heat does not scorch these materials. Make sure the
heat lamp is on dry ground. Even better, plug it into a ground
Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet.
CAUTION!: Do not use any
direct heating method if the frozen pipe is next to a gas
pipe! Call a professional for help.
Method #4: Hold a hand-operated
hair dryer to the pipe, and slowly move up and down the length
of the frozen section. Make sure you are standing on dry ground.
Because you are working this close to water, plug the dryer
into a GFCI protected outlet.
You will know the pipe is thawed out
when water starts to trickle out of the open faucet. Let the
water run for a while to completely clear the pipe. Then,
close the faucet and check for leaks.
CAUTION!:
Do not use a propane torch to thaw out frozen pipes. Do not
use a propane torch even if it has a fire spreader attachment.
This is not only a fire hazard, bit it's also a quick way
to destroy your plastic plumbing pipes.
Find
out more!
For more safety information, or a no-obligation
quote, contact your authorized Foremost Insurance agent. For
the name of the authorized agent nearest you, call 1-800-237-6136.
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