How to Get the Water Flowing After a Pipe Freezes

When winter sets in, a frozen pipe is a huge possibility. If you notice that there is no flowing water in your faucet, it is important to thaw the frozen pipe promptly. However, the most important work is thawing it correctly. If you are not sure how to go about this, here is how to get the water flowing in a frozen pipe:

1. Find the Frozen Pipe
If you are to thaw a frozen pipe, you have to determine the pipe or pipes that are frozen. If you turn on a faucet and there is no water coming out or only a trickle escapes, then the pipe serving the faucet might be frozen. Additionally, if there is a pipe that is frozen, the chances are that others might be frozen too.

In the case of exposed pipes, such as those in basements, under sinks or that run along the external walls of the house, you might spot the frozen part of the pipe. A tell-tale sign is a frost on them while others develop a slight bulge. If the frozen part of the pipe is accessible, you will have diverse options for thawing it easy compared to a frozen portion that may be hidden behind a wall.

2. Turn on the Faucet
Before you get onto thawing the frozen pipe, first open the faucet which is fed by the pipe that you want to thaw. Open both the cold and hot handles. By doing this, you will release the pressure that may have built up in the system. Therefore, when you start thawing the pipe, the melted water will get to escape.

3. Spot Where to Begin
When thawing a frozen pipe, start from the area nearest to the faucet as you work your way through the blockage. This will allow the steam and melting ice to pass via the open faucet. However, if you were to start thawing near the blockage, the melted ice could be caught behind the blockage. This will only lead to more pressure inside the pipe, and it might burst.