How to Thaw a Frozen Water Pipe

Yes, winter is here or looming on the horizon, depending on the particular latitude of residence. Winter brings the family together for holiday celebrations like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. But good and bad tend to travel together.

So what nasty little winter events can be expected? Other than that horrid fruit cake that Aunt Hanna brings to the Thanksgiving dinner every year? The usually ill-timed frozen water pipe is one that pops to mind. This article will discuss how to thaw a frozen water pipe.

Be Proactive - Prevent a Frozen Water Pipe

Benjamin Franklin nailed it squarely when he quipped, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The best time to fix a frozen water pipe is before it happens. That is, a proper plumbing inspection should be done before the arctic weather actually arrives. The October through November time frame is usually appropriate, but again, it depends on latitude. This is part of the home winterizing schedule.

Do you have water pipes in the attic? In the crawl space? Get in there with a flashlight and make sure that everything is well insulated. The pipes themselves need insulation. Foam pipe insulation with a factory-cut slit is cheap and easy to install.

Use silver duct tape to seal the slit, and at intersections and elbows. Don't use regular duct tape. It's not really for use in the attic.

Other products for very exposed areas are UL-listed "heat tape", and "heat cable". The local hardware store should stock products suitable for local use.

Got a swimming pool in the back yard? If it's not heated over the cold season, drain it, and the plumbing, if the weather is particularly severe. If you do keep it heated over the cold spell, keep a pool cover on it when it's not in use.

When a Frozen Water Pipe Does Happen...

Frozen water pipes will happen occasionally, even when all precautions have been taken. First, try running water through the pipe. Does it flow at all? If so, just let it keep flowing to speed the thawing process.

The objective is to get things back to normal before the pipe expands so much that it ruptures. There are several items that will speed thawing the frozen water pipe:

A space heater. This is a help when using the methods below, speeding the thawing process, and keeping the person/people doing the work more comfortable.
A hair dryer. This is a great gadget to thaw plumbing. Don't overheat the pipe in one spot, but keep it moving, as if spray painting.
A heat gun. This is preferable if one is close at hand. A heat gun is like a hair dryer on steroids. Once again, keep it moving.
Water-soaked towels. Soaking towels in hot water and wrapping the pipes also works well. This works best with two or three people. The objective is to keep the towels hot. You're going to want to wear rubber gloves if you opt for this method.
An electric heating pad.An electric heating pad. This is preferable to the towel method because it's dry and covers more real estate.

Precautions While Thawing a Water Pipe

Do not use a blowtorch to thaw pipes. It might sound logical, but it's too much horsepower. Likewise, don't use any other open flame tool. Much too dangerous in any confined space.

And After the Thaw...

Once the water pipe is thawed and flowing normally, check carefully for any pipe cracks that might have developed. If there are any leaks, the plumbing must be repaired as soon as possible. Especially if the leak is in the attic, there is going to be a drywall repair job to take care of.

Now that problem spots have been identified, think of better precautions to take in the future. Install more insulation? More heat in the area? Relocate the lines? Think creatively and think outside the box.

Copyright 2007-2008 Kelly Smith All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted by notifying the author.

Plumbing For Commercial Purposes

As a business owner, you are very aware of the multitasking involved that comes with the everyday life of running your own company. As if spreadsheets, sales meetings, client lunches, and proposal reading were not enough, you also run into other challenges within the office building itself. Those challenges run the gamut from general maintenance issues (light bulb outages, for example) to more complicated problems which can hinder everyday business, such as completely clogged toilets in the customer restroom. While you probably have a maintenance crew available to take care of the smaller problems, there will be times when it is necessary to hire a professional to take care of the larger issues such as plumbing.

The maintenance crew will probably be able to handle everything from keeping the exterior of your building clean and tidy, to rearranging office space as needed. They may even be able to fix toilets that consistently run, faucets that drip, and copy machines that are continually on the fritz. A plumber will be able to handle other predicaments within your plumbing system that are beyond the scope of your maintenance crew.

Some common plumbing problems may include running water coming from the bathroom faucets that looks or smells funny, toilets that cannot be unclogged through the use of plungers or drain cleaners, and old pipes that are cracked or leaking. In any of these situations, hiring a plumber is an absolute must. Only a professional can track the source and carry out testing of unsafe water coming from a faucet that was previously not presenting any problems. A licensed contractor also he has access to special tools such a waterproof cameras that can travel through drain pipes in order to find clogs, which can then be snaked out through the use of a pipe snake. Cracked and leaking the tape presents an entirely different situation. Older pipes may contain lead which can be dangerous to both children and pregnant women. If these are leaking the best option may be to replace him with newer piping which is made out of a safer material.

If you belong to a local business association, check with them first to see if there is a plumber but also belongs to the association. These associations operate for the sole purpose of networking and promoting continued business within the community. However, if you do not belong to an association you can check online for licensed plumbers in your area that perform these aspects of commercial plumbing. Many licensed contractors service both residential and commercial plumbing systems.

All Clogged Up - Plumbing Problems?

There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with something that's not functioning properly. A clogged drain is definitely one of them. Of course your stopped up drain is usually the result of all types of debris that has managed to get into the pipes of your plumbing system. A unique comparison would be the way bacteria manages to get into our system and cause a common cold or some type of infection in our bodies. The cold and flu season is a challenging time in households across America. There are those who attempt to get a flu shot to prevent them from getting ill, and then those who don't.

Our plumbing system requires adequate protection as well. When we disregard food that continuously slips down our drain into our pipes and hair that becomes lodged in the same we are headed for trouble, ask a Lewisville plumber. He would share with you that a backed up sink, tub or toilet is often a symptom of a much bigger problem.

Similar to congestion that lingers in our bodies, if not removed it leads to more complicated issues. Some attempt to spend unnecessary money on plumbing products to remedy their issue. However, many times the issue has already grown to a problem that requires more than a simple home remedy at this point. It's the same way with our cold symptoms. In the beginning stages we attempt to weather the storm of bacteria and unwanted aches and pains with over-the-counter medications. However, when the situation doesn't get better we make our way to the doctor. Calling a Lewisville plumber to do an analysis of your issue is the best method to take for your clogged drain. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Common Household Toilet Plumbing Problems

When it comes to household plumbing problems that affect your toilet, there are really only a few that make up the bulk of the total. Fortunately, most of them are relatively harmless and can be remedied by the home or business owner. While it's certainly true that you should seek the advice of a professional plumber for more major jobs, the following list includes some of the more basic issues including what causes them and how to fix them:

1. Constant Trickling of Water in Toilet - Have you ever passed by your bathroom to hear the sound of your toilet bowl refilling with water even though you haven't used it? If so, you likely have a common issue referred to as "phantom flush," where the refill mechanism in the bowl turns off and on intermittently. The reason for this is likely a small leak between the tank and the bowl, creating the need for constant top offs. Typically, the leak occurs around the flapper or flapper seal and the solution is to either replace the worn flapper or to attempt to re-seat it.

2. Trickling Water into the Tank - Another common issue concerns the sound of hissing water coming from the tank portion of your toilet. Most often this is a result of a faulty float, inlet tube or valve assembly, so these are the first things that should be examined. The hissing you hear is the sound of water making its way through the inlet, which is directly affected by the position of the float valve. To fix the problem you will need to ensure that the float is in the correct position. You'll also want to check the position of the refill tube to ensure it isn't positioned to far into the overflow. If both of these components are functioning properly and the problem still persists then it's likely that you need to replace the entire ballcock assembly.

3. Clogged Toilet Drain - Ah yes, the good old clog; the bane of every homeowner. It turns out that clogs represent the most common issue when it comes to toilet maintenance. Although freeing the clog isn't always a pleasant process, fortunately there are a variety of tools to make the job easier. The most obvious device is the plunger, which is great for clearing minor clogs. All you need to do is simply place the bulb of the plunger into the drain and pump out the clog. More severe clogs may require the use of a closet auger or even the assistance of a professional service company.