Frozen pipes are one of the most terrifying home maintenance issues a homeowner can face. Even the strongest pipes can be damaged by the pressure created by freezing water. That frozen pipe is a ticking time bomb; if it bursts, it could flood your home with up to 8 gallons of water per minute, costing you thousands of dollars in repairs.
Although we know that calling a professional plumber is the most effective solution, we don’t always have the time (or the money) to do so. Calm down! Following the instructions below on how to thaw frozen pipes will allow you to take care of this issue on your own.
1. TOOLS & MATERIALS
- 5-gallon bucket
- Mop
- Towels
- Hair dryer
- Heat gun
- Heat lamp
- Space heater
- Project Overview
- Working Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Estimated cost: $0 to $35
Before Starting
Before you start the thawing process, you must find the main water shutoff valve in your home and turn off the water there. When a pipe freezes, it’s likely that the water will expand and cause the pipe to break. Once the ice melts, that water will flow without stopping and could flood your home. You won’t be able to turn it off if you don’t know where the main water shut-off valve is.
