Even if you love winter, nobody loves dealing with frozen pipes. This can happen during extremely cold weather, especially if you’re not regularly running the water, or certain areas of your home are unheated. Frozen pipes prevent your drains from working, blocking your water supply. If you don’t quickly thaw them, they can burst—and the resulting damage may require extensive work and money to address. 

Thawing water pipes quickly is essential to restoring your water flow and avoiding burst pipes. But locating the frozen sections and resolving the problem can be challenging. Read our guide to learn how to locate and thaw frozen pipes, how to prevent refreezing, and when to call a plumber. 

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How to Locate Frozen Pipes

All of your pipes will rarely freeze at once. It’s typically local to whatever faucet isn’t running water. Before pinpointing the exact location, you must confirm that a frozen pipe is indeed the problem. You can do so with the following steps: 

• Check the most susceptible pipes: The pipes’ location and exposure to cold will make certain ones more likely to freeze than others. Common areas where pipes are susceptible to freezing include exterior walls, attics, and crawl spaces. 
• Examine exposed pipes: Inspect exposed pipes, such as under sinks and in the basement, for visible frost, bulging, or slow or blocked drains.
• Determine the extent of the problem: Turn on all of your faucets and fixtures to see how many are affected. A pipe has likely burst if you hear running water under your home or find an indoor leak. Shut off your home’s main water supply at the shutoff valve before proceeding with repairs. 

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Thawing Methods

Sometimes, thawing pipes is an easy, do-it-yourself (DIY) job. There are two basic ways to do this: one requires encouraging water movement, while the other works by applying direct heat. Using these methods simultaneously tends to deliver the most effective results. The process can take several hours, and it is essential to avoid using high-heat devices that can damage pipes or start a fire.

Encouraging Water Flow

If you’ve ever noticed that ponds freeze over during cold weather while rivers are unaffected, you’ve witnessed how water movement can prevent freezing. Trickling water passing through your water line can similarly impact the ice in your pipes. Begin by opening all affected water faucets to allow as much water movement as possible. If you’re still getting a small trickle of water, it can help prevent the pipe from fully freezing and even melt existing ice. Even if pipes are fully blocked, opening the faucet relieves pressure that can help you avoid bursting a pipe. 

After turning on the faucets, ensure that exposed pipes get as much additional heat as possible. Open any cabinet doors beneath sinks and doors that could block heat flow. Place a fan or space heater nearby to circulate warm air toward the area of the frozen pipe. This approach requires patience, as the thawing process can take several hours.

Heat Application Techniques

While your faucets are turned on, apply heat near the frozen pipe sections to speed up the melting process. There are several safe heat sources for applying heat to frozen pipes. You may even be able to apply a combination of heating methods for improved results. No matter what you use, avoid using open flames and never leave heating devices unattended. Use one or more of these heat sources to warm frozen pipes: 

• Blow-dryer: Pointing a blow-dryer directly at frozen pipes can warm them enough to begin thawing ice and dislodge the blockage. You can also use a heat gun, heat lamp, and heating pad. 
• Heat tape: Electrical heat tape (heat trace) is designed specifically for water pipes and will slowly raise the temperature around and inside the pipe. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe and effective use. 
• Hot towels: A rotation of hot towels wrapped around the frozen pipe will gradually heat it up and melt the ice. However, this option requires patience, as towels cool quickly, and you must keep replacing them. 
• Space heater: A space heater set up in your crawl space or near frozen pipes can help warm the area enough to thaw the pipe. You can use this option in conjunction with another heat source. 

Thawing pipes with a direct heat source requires beginning at the affected faucet and working your way back toward the frozen section. Before starting the thawing process, open the affected faucets to encourage water flow. 

Frozen pipes are often exposed, making them easily accessible for thawing. Working slowly, apply heat to any exposed areas of the pipe. The frozen area may be bulging or have visible frost on the outside. Consider setting up a space heater nearby and working with a direct heat source to thaw the area. Exercise patience and avoid overheating the pipe so you don’t damage it. 

Water will most likely emerge from your faucet as a trickle as the pipes begin to thaw. While this is an early signal of success, don’t stop applying heat until full pressure is restored. 

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How to Prevent Refreezing

Once you have restored your water flow, you can take steps to avoid similar problems in the future. Just as you might winterize your home, there are ways you can winterize your vulnerable water pipes to protect them in freezing temperatures. 

• Keep the area where your water meter is located above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Identify the cause of any frozen pipes you’ve experienced and make sure these pipes have the temperatures and insulation they need to prevent them from refreezing. 
• Insulate the pipes that froze—and other pipes in unheated areas—with foam sleeves, pipe insulation, or newspaper. 
• To prevent freezing, leave water trickling from one or more faucets during very cold weather. 
• Open under-sink cabinets during very cold weather to allow more heat to reach pipes.
• Seal cracks and openings in your home’s exterior walls.
• Set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit, day and night. 

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When to Call a Plumber

Unfortunately, you may not always have adequate plumbing experience to thaw your frozen pipes independently. While you might be tempted to wait for the pipes to thaw, doing so could result in burst pipes, water damage, and more issues with your plumbing system. Contacting a professional plumber when the following situations occur could help you save money in the long run and avoid a home improvement project you didn’t plan for:

• Despite your efforts, you haven’t been able to thaw your pipes on your own after several hours.
• Pipes have already burst and are leaking.
• Frozen pipes are in areas you can’t access, like behind walls or above ceilings.
• You feel unsure of your ability to safely thaw your pipes on your own.

If any of these apply, you must find a qualified professional to thaw your pipes and repair any related damage. Explain to your prospective plumber that time is of the essence to avoid extensive water damage, and ask them questions like the following to make sure they’re right for the job:

• Are you licensed and insured?
• Can you identify why my pipes froze?
• How can I prevent this in the future?
• How soon can you arrive?
• What thawing methods do you use?

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Our Recommendation

Frozen water pipes can cut off part or all of your water supply and prevent your drains and toilets from working. If you don’t thaw them promptly, pipes can burst and cause expensive water damage to your home. Burst water pipes can be expensive to fix and may leave you without water for even longer. You can use a combination of methods to thaw your water pipes. However, it’s best to contact a plumbing professional if your efforts are ineffective or you’re unsure of your abilities. After you’ve thawed your pipes, taking precautionary measures to prevent them from refreezing is vital.

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