Preventing and thawing frozen pipes Published Feb. 21, 2012 By Tech. Sgt. James Fountain 17th Training Wing Safety GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- -- What can we do to help safely thaw these frozen pipes and prevent it from freezing during cold winter weather? Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the "strength" of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break. Pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines and water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages or kitchen cabinets. Also, pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation are subject to freezing. An eighth-inch crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water a day, destroying floors, furniture and personal property. Both plastic and copper pipes can burst. Pipe freezing is a particular problem in warmer climates where pipes often run through un-insulated walls or under insulated attics or crawl spaces. Here are a few safety to help deal with one of mother nature's safety hazards. Before the onset of cold weather, prevent freezing of these water supply lines and pipes by following these recommendations: · Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer's or installer's directions. Do not put antifreeze in these lines unless directed. Antifreeze is environmentally harmful, and is dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping. · Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break. · Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located and are in unheated areas. Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated. A hot water supply line can freeze just as a cold water supply line can freeze if the water is not running through the pipe and the water temperature in the pipe is cold. Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve" or installing UL-listed "heat tape," "heat cable," or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Many products are available at your local building supplies retailer. Pipes should be carefully wrapped, with ends butted tightly and joints wrapped with tape. Follow manufacturer's recommendations for installing and using these products. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes - even a fourth of an inch of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing. During Cold Weather, Take Preventive Action · Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage. · Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children. · When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing because the temperature of the water running through it is above freezing. · Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst. If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF. Here are some additional tips to avoid bursting water pipes: During severe cold snaps, pipes can freeze and burst. Avoid trouble by taking precautions now: Find the master shutoff valve: The master shutoff valve turns off the water to the entire house. Learn its location and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is. This could be critical if a pipe should burst. Where are my shutoff valves:There are actually two major shutoff valves in line with your service. The first valve, called a curb stop, is generally located near the property line and is normally housed by a cylinder with a cap on it called the curb box. The other major valve is located in the home next to the water meter. Other valves may be near plumbing appliances such as sinks and toilets. Keeping your main valve in good working condition will assure you that you will be able to turn your water off in the event of an emergency, in case one of your water pipes breaks, for example. Older style gate valves should be turned periodically due to possible corrosion build-up. Newer, Teflon-coated ball valves should stay in working order without any regular turning. Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Detaching the hose allows water to drain from the pipe so an overnight freeze doesn't burst the faucet or the pipe it's connected to. Shut down your sprinkler system. Turn off the automatic timer and bleed the system of water. It's time to put your landscaping to bed for the winter. Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas: Wrap exposed water pipes in unheated areas (such as the garage, basement, crawl space, or space beneath your mobile home) before temperatures plummet. You can find pipe wrapping materials at any hardware or building supply store. For a high-tech solution, consider installing "heat tape" or similar materials on exposed water pipe. Be sure to use only UL-listed products and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Seal off access doors, air vents, and cracks: Winter winds whistling through overlooked openings can quickly freeze exposed water pipes. DO NOT plug air vents used by your furnace or water heater. What if it's too late? During an extended cold spell, pipes can freeze even if precautions have been taken. If a pipe on your property freezes, the Water Authority recommends that you call a licensed plumber to make necessary repairs. If a pipe on your property bursts and you need emergency water shut-off, call your local water company or public works emergency number. If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Locate the suspected frozen area of the water pipe. Likely places include pipes running against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation . · Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt more ice in the pipe. · Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, and electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept 3 feet away from flammable materials), or wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device. A blowtorch can make water in a frozen pipe boil and cause the pipe to explode. All open flames in homes present a serious fire danger, as well as a severe risk of exposure to lethal carbon monoxide. · Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber. · Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too. · Don't use any electrical appliances or stand in any water due to possible electrocution hazards. Steps on How to Thaw Frozen Water Pipes Check to make sure the frozen pipe hasn't cracked: When water freezes into ice it expands, so if the water in the pipe is frozen solid it may have expanded enough to actually crack the pipe (in which case you'll need to repair the pipe). However, in many cases a water pipe isn't cracked; it's just blocked Once you've determined the pipe hasn't split, turn off the water leading to the pipe. In older homes this likely means you'll need to shut off the main water supply coming into your home, while in newer homes intermediate water shut off valves may have been installed, allowing you to isolate the frozen pipe. Open all of the faucets connected to the frozen pipe to get rid of the cold water in the pipe, minimize pressure and allow the ice/water to flow out of the pipe once it's thawed. Thaw your pipe by using one of the following methods (depending on what you have available and how easy or difficult it is to get to the pipe). · Wrap the pipe with bath towels or cloths and pour hot water (from the kettle) over the towels. This will apply warmth to a section of the pipe and thaw the ice. · Use a handheld hair dryer to blow warm air onto the frozen section. · Prop a small space heater close to the frozen pipe and leave it for an hour. · Wrap the frozen pipe with electric pipe heating tape (available at home stores). Consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing. Pipes can be relocated by a professional if the home is remodeled. Add insulation added to attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in these areas. How to Thaw Frozen Drain Pipes All the above methods for thawing a frozen water pipe will work for thawing a frozen drainpipe, except for the torches-you DON'T want to use a torch on a PVC or ABS plastic pipe. Plus, here's a couple of other ways you could thaw a frozen drainpipe. Pour hot/boiling water down the drain and let it melt the ice. Snake a piece of rubber tubing down the drain until it hits the ice. Attach the end of the tube that's in your hand to the spout of a boiling kettle of water. The steam from the kettle will travel down the pipe and melt the blockage. For more information, please contact a licensed plumber or building professional. Information provided by the American Red Cross and Weather.com .