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Thawing: A Key To Frozen Pipe Repair

Frozen water pipes can be a terrible hazard during the coldest months of the year. If the pipe is frozen but not burst then you need to thaw it out to prevent further damage. Here we explore how to do that.

Author: Andrew Stratton

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Frozen pipe repair begins with figuring out if it has burst or not. If it has not then this is very good news. What you need to do then is to proceed to thaw out the problem area. You will know that it is frozen because when you turn your bathroom or kitchen faucet on no water will appear, or if it does it will be a very small amount. Once you realize that it is blocked you need to get to work to fix the problem right away.

To start, open the faucet that is supplied by the pipe. You then need to locate the area where the blockage is situated. Follow it back from the faucet to where it goes through areas that are cold. Examples of these could be an unheated crawl space, an unheated basement or an exterior wall.

The blocked section will either be coated with ice or it will have a frosted appearance. If the section has been this way for some time then it may look fissured or bulged. As you do your best to thaw the frozen area there is always the chance that it could burst. If it does then go to the water main and shut it off without delay!

If the pipe is exposed then you should leave the main water valve on. It is important that you remember to thaw and heat in the direction of the faucet leading toward the blocked part. The reason for this is because it will allow water to flow out as the ice begins to melt. The pressure from the water in the area will automatically force the ice to exit once it has melted enough.

Thawing is a very integral aspect of this type of repair. You are left with a few options for doing this. You will require an intense heat source for this purpose. The most common technique is to use a hair dryer. In fact a high powered hair dryer is one of the safest methods you can employ.

Before you begin, as previously stated, always ensure that the faucet is open. Then go to work. Heat it in such a manner that you work your way back from the faucet and towards the area of the blockage. If it happens to be close to a wall then what you want to do is place a cookie sheet directly behind the pipe. This is beneficial for your purposes because it serves to radiate heat where you need it most- onto the back portion of the pipe.

Other tools you can use in terms of thawing include a lamp, a small portable heater or electric tape. If you decide to use a lamp then go with an incandescent lamp or an infrared lamp.

About Author

With frozen pipe repair Rhode Island based service providers help you to repair your blocked pipes during the coldest months relieving you of untimely water shortage and the inconvenience that follows. To know more, visit http://www.purocleanri.com

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