Q&A for How to Unfreeze Water Pipes

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  • Question
    What do I do if the pipe is unfrozen but water still doesn't flow out?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Your pipe is still frozen. If the water isn't turning on, it's a sign that the supply line isn't getting water, which means something is either turned off or frozen. If you didn't simply forget to turn the water supply back on, that leaves frozen as the primary answer. Keep trying to unfreeze your pipe.
  • Question
    If pipes are frozen should I turn the breaker off to the well?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes. Shut the well pump off if a pipe is frozen. Just know, you won't have access to fresh water until the pipe thaws, so you may want to tackle the frozen pipes sooner rather than later.
  • Question
    Our outdoor faucet was set to drip, but the next day it's not dripping and the faucet will not turn. What happened and what should we do?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    The "drip trick" doesn't work on outdoor spigots. Shut the water to that specific spigot off if you can. If you can't, just leave it alone and close the spigot once the faucet finally thaws.
  • Question
    There is a small amount of water coming out of the faucet. We have an outside well. Where should I begin to look?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If only a small amount of water is trickling out of the faucet, you already found the frozen pipe. Leave the water trickling to help thaw the pipe.
  • Question
    All the faucets have no running water. Where is the leak?
    Community Answer
    At the source of your property water intake. Or, the pipe is frozen before your home, at street level.
  • Question
    Can I wrap heating pad around a frozen pipe to thaw it?
    Community Answer
    Yes, if you've correctly identified the location of the frozen section and wrap the same area.
  • Question
    Is there a way to thaw water pipes that are underground?
    Community Answer
    Underground water pipes are naturally insulated, so it will take some time. It depends on how deep the pipe(s) is. All underground water pipes should be below your area's frost line to prevent freezing.
  • Question
    Should I let hot or cold water drip from the faucets?
    Community Answer
    Both. Turn on the hot water and let it come to a drip and then turn on the cold water and let it come to a drip. Hot and cold water come from different pipes, so it is best to run both.
  • Question
    What if only the cold water pipes are frozen in a specific area of the house? Will running the hot water help thaw the ice?
    Community Answer
    No. Hot water lines are separate from cold water lines. So when you are running the hot water, you are using a different pipe to supply water.
  • Question
    Why isn't the heat gun defrosting my pipe?
    Community Answer
    Your pipe may be frozen in a different area than where you're aiming the heat gun. You may also need to remove any covering on the pipe in order to ensure that the heat is able to reach the ice.
  • Question
    How long should it take to thaw a pipe with a blow dryer?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the length of the pipe as well as the hair dyer heat. Working from the water source first is the quickest bet, especially if there are bleed valves to slightly open. Check your progress while heating to see if the water is starting to flow.
  • Question
    How long does it take for the water to get hot after the pipes unfreeze?
    Community Answer
    This depends on the outside temperature and your water heater's efficiency -- the hotter and more efficient, the faster. An average water heater takes about half an hour to fully replenish the hot water supply.
  • Question
    How long does it take for water to melt?
    Community Answer
    It depends on how much ice is frozen. The more ice you have, the more heat and time will be needed to melt the ice.
  • Question
    Will my pipes freeze if the faucet is left dripping?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the climate you live in, but most pipes have some type of insulation on them such as foam that prevents them from freezing even when left dripping.
  • Question
    Why does my hot water faucet freeze before my cold water faucet?
    Community Answer
    There are two possible reasons for this. First, the hot water pipe may be more exposed to cold air (by being closer to an external wall, for example) than the cold water pipe. Another option is that some ionic impurities in the water will come out of the solution in the water heater. These ionic impurities reduce the freezing point of your water a degree or more, depending on the concentration, making it more vulnerable to freezing.
  • Question
    Can I pour antifreeze into an open end of an underground pipe to melt the ice?
    Community Answer
    No. Antifreeze is for fuel and oil in cars. It won’t do anything for pipes.
  • Question
    If it takes a half hour for the water to get hot after the pipes unfreeze, should I leave the water running?
    Epic Gaming 101
    Community Answer
    No, that would be a waste of water. You could try to heat up the pipes manually, or you could leave the water running and let the flow drip in a bucket for later use. Remember, don’t waste water!
  • Question
    Can you thaw pipes using an electric welder or battery charger?
    Epic Gaming 101
    Community Answer
    Not a good idea. A welder can make you go blind if your naked eye is exposed to it, and you may inadvertently weld the pipe shut. And a battery charger is hazardous all around.
  • Question
    Water isn't draining from my sink, bath, or washing machine in the bathroom. I think the drain pipes are frozen. Is there anything I can do?
    Community Answer
    You should apply salt down the drains to lower the freezing temperature of the water. Once it heats up, you should look into doing preventative measures so your drains don’t freeze in the future.
  • Question
    What if the pipe is too frozen?
    Community Answer
    You will probably have to use two heat guns. More heat is usually best for deep-frozen pipes.
  • Question
    If there is a trickle of water coming out of my outside faucet but no water in the house, would it mean the pipes underground coming to the house are still frozen?
    Maura Behan
    Community Answer
    Yes, that's a strong possibility. When you have a trickle of water from an outside faucet but no water flowing inside the house, it often indicates that the pipes leading into your house are frozen. The small amount of water coming out of the faucet might be from a section of the pipe that is not fully frozen, but the main line could still be blocked. Address this promptly to prevent further freezing and potential pipe damage.
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