Step 1: Open faucet to allow steam and melting water to escape
Step 2: Apply heat at faucet and work back toward other end of frozen section.
Step 3: Whistle while you work. Thawing frozen pipes takes time. Listen to your favorite tunes to pass the time and avoid frustration.
What’s the best way to apply heat?
- Most popular and safest way is to use hot water. Wrap and secure heavy towel around pipe to concentrate and hold heat against it. Place bucket under pipe to catch runoff, then pour hot or boiling water over towel.
- A less messy way is using a heat lamp or hair dryer as heat source, but takes longer.
- For the more daring and experienced, a propane torch with flame-spreader nozzle can be used. Extreme caution must be used to prevent flame from damaging or igniting wall behind pipe. Use scrap fireproof material between pipe and wall. Keep flame moving back and forth, never leave it one spot very long. Pass over any soldered pipe joints very quickly. NEVER use torch or other direct high heat on plastic pipe.
