Will frozen drain pipes thaw on their own?

There’s nothing worse than waking up on a cold morning and realizing your pipes have frozen overnight. Any homeowner that has lived through harsh winters knows how big of a trouble this is.

Frozen pipes disrupt your whole daily routine and cause major damage to your home. It’s important to know why pipes freeze, how to prevent freezing pipes, and how to thaw out your pipes if the worst happens.

Read on to learn how you can manage and avoid these tricky situations.

Will Frozen Pipes Thaw On Their Own?

Frozen pipes may thaw on their own, but not without substantial damage. Letting your pipes thaw on their own may result in major water damage and broken plumbing.

Rather than learning how to let your frozen pipes thaw, it’s smarter to learn how to prevent them from freezing in the first place.

If one of you’re pipes has broken, immediately contact the leak detection pros at All Dry USA. We will find the leak and stop the leak, as well as help with any restoration work required.

How To Thaw Out Your Pipes?

If you suspect a frozen pipe, go ahead and call All Dry USA to assess the problem. Frozen pipes will need to be thawed out following these steps:

1. Find the frozen pipe: Carefully locate the frozen section of the plumbing. Do this by checking for faucets that aren’t producing water. Look underneath sinks for sections of pipe that have frost on the outside. You might also notice bulging.
2. Open the faucet: Once you’ve located the frozen pipe, make sure the faucet is open. This way, any water that thaws can drain.
3. Thaw towards the faucet: Now that you’ve opened the faucet, begin to thaw the pipe by heating the frozen area. Do this by applying gentle heat with a hair dryer, heat lamp, electrical heating tape, or other tool that produces warmth. Thaw the section closest to the faucet first to avoid building pressure within the pipeline.

The Reasons Why Pipes Freeze

Simply put, water expands when it freezes. Pressure builds up, and places strain on your plumbing and drain lines. When this happens, pinhole leaks or fractures in the pipe interiors can occur.

Once pipes have burst, unfrozen water isn’t able to escape the pipe, which leads to a possible flood.

Don’t let this be you…

How To Prevent Pipes From Freezing

The good news is there are plenty of preventative measures to take so that your pipes don’t freeze this winter.

• Insulate segments that are exposed: Any exposed drain pipe segments can be covered with foam insulation to keep them warm. Certain insulation can be easily slipped onto pipes from a slit down the center, meaning you won’t have to disconnect anything. Any plumbing that reaches underneath the soil should be insulated as well. Dig until you can reach about a foot of the underground pipe. Insulate those sections as well. This keeps the pipe from sitting in frost and freezing.
• Keep cold air out: Locate any gaps in your house’s walls that may welcome freezing air to reach your plumbing and drain pipes. Seal these cracks with insulation like spray foam. Large openings in the wall may need to be patched with siding or wood to keep the cold out.
• Fix running faucets: Drainpipes in the house that don’t contain any water won’t be able to freeze. Any location where faucets are dripping will allow for enough water in the plumbing that can freeze the drain. Be sure to resolve any major plumbing issues before the first freeze of winter.
• Winterize outdoor hoses: Outdoor hoses can’t be forgotten before winter sets in. To winterize your outdoor hoses, shut off the interior valve and open the spigot outside. Drain the line, leaving the valve open so no pressure can build. Cover the end of the hose with any inexpensive foam insulator.
• Protect water lines in cold areas: Locate pipes that are more likely to freeze due to their locations. For instance, sections in the attic, basement, cold garage, bathrooms or kitchen cabinets. Take extra care by insulating these sections of plumbing with insulation and heat tape.
• Adjust the thermostat: When temperatures drop below 28 degrees, make sure your thermostat stays above 55 degrees, all day. Check that heating vents are open in all of your rooms.

Leave It To The Professionals

Don’t mess around with frozen pipes this winter. If you notice frozen plumbing in your home, leave it up to the experts to fix.

If you’re in this situation, contact All Dry USA. We are a well-established restoration and repair firm specializing in residential and commercial services. Our team of professionals is ready to help you with frozen pipe repairs.

Call us to talk to our plumbing professionals – we will schedule an appointment for you right away!

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Chief Executive Officer at All Dry USA

With Ben’s knowledge, and visionary leadership, All Dry USA has expanded into a national, full-service property damage restoration company with multiple locations across the United States. Ben holds numerous specialty licenses and certifications in restoration and construction.