Every winter many Americans are dealing with the very real and dangerous risk of frozen pipes. If you suspect your pipes are frozen, there are four key things you should immediately do. 1. In order to limit possible damage if a pipe bursts, shut off the water at the main valve. 2. If you’re able to, fill your bathtub before shutting the main valve off so that you have water available to flush toilets. 3. Turn on the bathtub faucet so that when your pipes do thaw, the ice has room to expand and drain. 4. If there are any visible signs of pipe damage, call a plumber and schedule an appointment. Although it’s better to allow your pipes to thaw on their own, some situations may warrant getting involved with these five steps. 1. Leave a faucet on and allow water to flow, as it will help melt ice in pipes. 2. Use a hair dryer, NOT a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, to heat up the pipe. 3. Put a space heater in the room where the frozen pipe is. 4. Continue to warm up your pipes until full water pressure returns. 5. Reach out to a plumber if you can’t find the frozen pipe or it is not accessible.
