How To Thaw Pipes In Attic

Frozen pipe will feel very cold while pipe with free flowing water will feel notably warmer.

How to thaw pipes in attic. In this video house flipping brothers dave and rich show you how to thaw frozen pipes. Where does the wate. Any exposed pipes should be insulated using pipe sleeves heat cable or heat tape. Put on rubber gloves and soak towels in hot water.

Don t thaw pipes using a propane torch which presents a fire risk. Wrapping towels soaked in hot water around the pipe or using a space heater to warm the surrounding area can help it thaw. Keep pouring hot water over the open valve until water begins to flow. Use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.

Never use a blowtorch kerosene or propane heater charcoal stove or other open flame device and keep space heaters at least a few feet from the pipe. A trickle of hot and cold. What to do if a pipe bursts. To determine whether a section of pipe is frozen simply feel it.

Open the door to the attic to allow warm air to move up if you have pipes in the attic. Throw salt sand or soil into the water you spill in the path. The small amount of water you waste is much less than the cost of a plumbing repair or the amount of water that will escape if a pipe bursts. Pour your warm water onto the frozen hose valve until you can remove the hose.

Locate the frozen pipe the first step to thaw frozen pipes is to locate the section of pipe and turn off the local water supply to it. Drain water from swimming pools and irrigation supply lines close valves supplying outdoor hose bibs then open exterior bibs to allow lines to drain check for any supply lines in unheated areas including the attic garage and in crawl spaces. Ring them out then wrap them securely around the frozen section of pipe. Do not leave cold wet towels around the pipes.

The key is to know how your plumbing system works. Use a space heater heat lamp or hair dryer to thaw the frozen length of pipe. Heat the area until full water pressure is restored. Replace with freshly soaked hot towels every 5 10 minutes until the pipe thaws.

Again keep it moving. Do not overheat the pipe in the same spot but keep it moving over the surface like if you were spray painting. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house. The flowing water will prevent pipes from freezing.

A hairdryer is a great device to thaw pipes. A heat gun is preferable to a hairdryer if you have one close at hand like a hairdryer on steroids.