Winter cold can turn a small plumbing issue into a big emergency fast. If you turn on a faucet and only get a trickle (or nothing at all) there’s a good chance you’re dealing with frozen pipes somewhere in your home. Handling it the wrong way can cause the pipe to burst as it thaws, leading to major water damage.
At Steve Huff Plumbing, we help homeowners across the Tri-Cities region safely thaw frozen pipes and repair any damage when temperatures plunge. Below are simple, homeowner-friendly steps you can take, plus clear signs it’s time to call our team.
How to Tell If Your Pipes are Frozen
- Little to no water from your faucet: If a faucet suddenly slows to a trickle or stops during colder weather, the supply line to that fixture may be frozen.
- Frost or ice on exposed pipes: visible frost, bulging sections, or extremely cold metal on pipes in basements, crawl spaces, garages, or exterior walls are tell-tale signs.
- Strange smells or noises: A sewer or drain smell from a fixture can mean a partially frozen drain. Banging or clanking sounds when you open a tap can indicate ice restrictions to the pipe.
Safety First: What NOT to Do
- Do NOT use an open flame: Never use a blowtorch or propane heater on pipes. Open flames are a serious first and safety hazard, and can damage the pipe itself.
- Do NOT pour boiling water on pipes: Extreme, uneven heat can shock the pipe and increase the chance of a crack or burst, especially on older and weaker lines.
- Do NOT leave heaters unattended: Space heaters or heat lamps can help, but they must be kept away from flammable materials and never left running unattended.
Step-by-Step: How to Thaw Frozen Pipes Safely
- Open the faucet: Turn on the faucet connected to the frozen pipe so it’s slightly open. This relieves pressure and gives melting ice somewhere to go, which reduces the risk of a burst when the pipe starts to thaw.
- Find the frozen section: Check uninsulated pipes in basements, crawl spaces, garages, under sinks, and along exterior walls for unusually cold spots, frost, or bulging.
- Apply gentle, even heat: Use safe heat sources only on accessible sections of pipe. Always start heating near the faucet and work your way back towards the frozen area so thawing water can move toward the open tap rather than being trapped behind the ice.
- Move a hair dryer or heat gun on low setting back and forth along the pipe.
- Wrap an electric heating pad around the pipe.
- Wrap towels soaked in hot (not boiling) water around the pipe, swapping out as they cool.
- Warm the surrounding area:
- Turn up your home’s thermostat and open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air reach hidden pipes.
- In garages or crawl spaces, use space heaters carefully to raise the ambient temperature, following all safety guidelines above.
- Watch for leaks as the pipe thaws: as water starts flowing again, look and listen for drips, spraying water, or wet spots on walls, ceilings, or floors, which can indicate a cracked pipe.
When to Call a Plumber Immediately
- You can’t find the frozen section but multiple fixtures have no water.
- The frozen pipe is behind a wall, ceiling, or in a hard-to-access crawl space.
- You see bulging pipes, active leaks, or water stains as things start to thaw.
- You’ve tried safe methods for 30-60 minutes with no improvement.
In these situations, call Steve Huff’s Heating and Plumbing to professionally thaw frozen pipes, repair damage, and help you insulate and protect vulnerable lines to prevent future freezes.
Traveling for the holidays? Prevent frozen pipes with our expert guidance. You can find additional winter plumbing prep on our blog!