During cold months, temperatures can drop to record lows in New Jersey.  One of the most common problems that happen in homes is having frozen pipes. Besides damaging the water supply and causing domestic disturbances, this can cause more severe damage by causing cracks or explosions in pipes. Therefore, it is convenient to know how to act, whether it’s a simple problem that you can solve yourself, or if it’s something more serious, and you must do something while waiting for the plumber to arrive.

How To Thaw Frozen Pipes

1. After discovering that the pipe has frozen, the first step is to determine the exact section(s) where an ice plug has formed. To do this, simply turn on the taps in the house one by one. Where the water does not flow, there will be a plug.

2. When the source of the problem has been detected, there are several alternatives to thaw the pipe. One is to apply heat from a hairdryer or hot-air stove to it. It is the simplest and “clean” way, but if it is in an outdoor space, the task can be complicated by the need to get there with an extension cord (unless it is a cordless dryer).

3. A more traditional method is to soak a rag in hot water and rest it on the pipe surface. A variant is to place the dry or slightly damp cloth on the tube and then pour the hot water over it. All these steps must be carried out slowly, as sudden changes in temperature can cause pipe breaks.

4. Finally, a more dangerous but effective alternative is to use a blowtorch on the pipe surface. Although with this resource, the desired results are achieved more quickly, it presents some risks that require extreme care. The torch flame must be in constant movement and never be applied fixedly at the same point of the pipe since it could break it. Of course, its use is limited to metal pipes and cannot be used on plastic or PVC pipes.

5. Inner pipes rarely freeze, but if this were the case, the best option is to pour boiling water down the drain until you notice that its fluidity and circulation improve.

6. When the pipes are frozen, there is a considerable risk that they will crack or explode. If this happens, the first thing you should do is close the general water shutoff valve, put a rag around the pipe to reduce losses, and call a plumber as soon as possible.

 

For more information about plumbing and frozen pipes, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other towns in New Jersey, such as Montclair, West Orange and Livingston.