What To Do If Your Pipes Freeze

Picture this: you turn on the faucet in your kitchen sink only to find that no water comes out. First, you try the cold and then you try the hot. Still nothing. But your faucet is relatively new and you never had a problem with it in the past. What could be wrong?

If you still have running water to the rest of your house, but notice that a specific fixture doesn’t seem to be working properly, you may have a frozen pipe. Pipes can freeze for a variety of different reasons with the most common being because they are not properly insulated or you have turned the thermostat below 58° for an extended period of time. Stagnant water in the pipes can freeze and cause a blockage or even worse - cause the pipe to burst.

So, now that you are dealing with a frozen pipe how can you remedy the situation? Homeowners can use a standard blow dryer to defrost the frozen section of the pipe. Just make sure you are a safe distance away from the outlet to avoid electric shocks and keep the heat on low to prevent damage to the pipe.

Where should you start with the blow dryer? Begin at the faucet and work your way down to the frozen part. This way you’ll be able to find the ice buildup and thaw it out more efficiently.

Now that you have melted the ice and restored running water to the faucet, we recommend heading out and purchasing pipe insulation. It can be found at just about any home improvement store and is relatively inexpensive. Especially when considering the major headaches it can save you down the road.

If you’re unable to restore the flow of water or notice a leak from the pipe, give ABC Plumbing a call today. Our licensed plumbers have the knowledge and the special equipment to thaw your pipes and replace burst pipes. Find out why thousands of homeowners in the Chicagoland area have been trusting us for decades.