How to thaw a pipe safely
Find the frozen section
Look for a pipe that is frosted or very cold, usually along an exterior wall, in a crawlspace or in an unheated garage.
Open the faucet
Leave it open. As ice melts, water needs a way to flow, and the open tap relieves pressure.
Apply gentle heat
Use a hair dryer, a heating pad or warm towels, working from the faucet toward the frozen part.
Check for leaks
Once water flows, look along the pipe for drips or damp spots, since a split can hide until it thaws.
Never use a torch or any open flame. It can start a fire and can also damage or burst the pipe.
Where pipes freeze first in Reading homes
January in Reading averages a high around 38 degrees and a low near 23. Pipes freeze first where cold air reaches them, and the usual places are exterior walls, uninsulated crawlspaces, unheated garages and basements with open windows.
Older houses, and rowhomes with a kitchen at the back wall, often have a supply line in exactly that wall. A burst pipe tends to follow in the same spot.
If it has already split
A pipe that thaws and then leaks has split. Close the main shutoff and call. A repair means cutting out the damaged section and replacing it. See burst pipe repair for what that involves. If water has soaked walls or floors, water damage restoration should follow quickly.
Preventing a second freeze
- Insulate pipes in crawlspaces, garages and exterior walls.
- Seal gaps where cold air gets in, such as around pipes through the wall.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls during hard freezes.
- Let a faucet drip when temperatures stay far below freezing.
- Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor spigots before winter.
If the same pipe freezes twice, a plumber may recommend rerouting it, adding heat tape or insulating the wall cavity.
When to call without trying anything
- The pipe is bulging, cracked or visibly split.
- You cannot find the frozen section.
- The frozen pipe is inside a finished wall or ceiling.
- The faucet is open and nothing has thawed after an hour of gentle heat.
- There is any water coming from a pipe at all.
In those cases, closing the main and calling is faster and safer than guessing. A plumber can use equipment that thaws a pipe from the inside or opens only the spot that needs it.