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Frozen pipes

Water pipes in which the water has turned to ice, blocking the flow and building pressure that can split the pipe and flood the house once it thaws.

What It Means

Frozen pipes are water lines where the water inside has turned to ice. Ice blocks the water from reaching the faucet, and because water expands as it freezes, it can crack or split the pipe. The American Red Cross publishes steps to prevent this and to thaw a pipe safely, centered on exposed pipes, pipes in attics, basements and crawl spaces, and the lines to outdoor faucets.

Try It: Sort Safe and Unsafe Ways to Thaw a Pipe

For each one, pick Use it or Never, per the American Red Cross.

Hair dryer
Electric heating pad
Towels soaked in hot water
Blowtorch
Kerosene or propane heater
Charcoal stove
Sorted correctly

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How It Sounds at Home

  • "Nothing's coming out of the kitchen tap, I think the pipe froze."
  • "Leave the faucet dripping tonight, it's going below zero."
  • "Open the cabinet under the sink so the warm air gets in."

The Breakdown

Keep pipes from freezing (American Red Cross)

  1. Drain and store outdoor hoses, close the inside valve to each outdoor faucetHose bibAn outdoor faucet on the outside wall of a house, threaded so a garden hose can screw onto it. Also called a spigot or outdoor faucet. See more, and leave the outdoor faucet open.
  2. On the coldest nights, open the cabinet doors under sinks so room air reaches the pipes, and let cold water drip from any faucet fed by exposed pipes.
  3. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. If you travel, leave the heat on at no lower than 55°F.
  4. Add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces, and consider pipe sleevesPipe insulationFoam or fiberglass sleeves and wraps fitted around water pipes to cut heat loss from hot water lines and help keep exposed pipes from freezing. See more or UL-listed heat tape or heat cable on exposed pipes.

If a pipe freezes

  1. A faucet that gives only a trickle on a freezing morning can mean a frozen pipe somewhere along its line.
  2. Warm the frozen section with an electric heating pad, a hair dryer, a portable space heater kept away from anything that can burn, or towels soaked in hot water.
  3. Keep the heat on it until full water pressure comes back.
  4. Call a licensed plumber if you can't find the frozen spot, can't reach it or can't thaw it.

Short version to try today. Find your main water shut-off and the indoor valves for your outdoor faucets, so you know where they are before the first hard freeze.

Good to Know

Never thaw a pipe with an open flame. The American Red Cross rules out blowtorches, kerosene or propane heaters, charcoal stoves and any other open-flame device. A portable space heater must be kept away from anything that can burn, and Buhata's own suggestion is to stay in the room while it runs. Should anything start to smoke or catch fire, get everyone out and call 911 from outside. When a pipe has burst, shut off the water at the main valve first and call a licensed plumber. Buhata's own suggestion: keep hair dryers and other electric tools away from standing water.

FAQ

How do I keep my pipes from freezing?

The American Red Cross suggests letting cold water drip from faucets on exposed pipes, opening sink cabinet doors, keeping the thermostat the same day and night, and draining outdoor hoses and faucets. If you're away, leave the heat at 55°F or higher.

How do I thaw a frozen pipe?

Warm the frozen section with an electric heating pad, a hair dryer, a space heater kept away from flammable things, or towels soaked in hot water, and keep going until full water pressure returns. Never use an open flame.

When should I call a plumber for a frozen pipe?

The Red Cross says to call a licensed plumber if you can't find the frozen area, can't reach it or can't thaw it. Call right away if a pipe has burst, after shutting off the main water valve.

Do It in Buhata

Maintenance (Household X) and Reminders

Add "Get pipes ready for winter" to Maintenance in the Household X add-on each fall, and add a Reminder to open the sink cabinets before the next freezing night.

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Related Terms and Categories

  • Pipe insulation

    Foam or fiberglass sleeves and wraps fitted around water pipes to cut heat loss from hot water lines and help keep exposed pipes from freezing.

  • Hose bib

    An outdoor faucet on the outside wall of a house, threaded so a garden hose can screw onto it. Also called a spigot or outdoor faucet.

  • Winterizing sprinklers

    Draining and blowing the water out of an in-ground sprinkler system before freezing weather, so ice can't crack its pipes, valves and heads.

  • Seasonal home maintenance

    Home upkeep sorted by time of year, so each job lands when the weather suits it and before the system it protects is needed most.

  • Insulation R-value

    A number that rates how well insulation resists heat flowing through it. The higher the R-value, the better it insulates.

Home maintenance and repairs

Sources

American Red Cross, "Preventing & Thawing Frozen Pipes"

Last updated .