My water pipe is frozen-What now?

Frozen Colorado Winter

It’s getting cold out so you better be prepared! Frozen pipes are a real problem in Colorado and a little knowledge can save you a lot in repairs.

You came home and turned on the water and nothing comes out! You don’t see any water leaking from broken pipes and suspect a frozen pipe.

Related article: Frozen Pipes Bring Headaches and Lots of Water. Parker, Colorado

Tip #1: When water is running in only one part of the house it usually means a pipe in an outside wall or uninsulated area is frozen.

What to do:

1. Locate the main water shutoff for the house and turn the water off.
2. Open faucets on the line that is affected with the frozen pipe so water will flow once the pipe is thawed.
3. Turn up your heat and open cabinets so the heat can reach the frozen lines under the sink.
4. You can run hot water through near by pipes to help heat the frozen pipes.
5. You can use a hair dryer to heat the pipe slowly until the water flows freely. Heat from the sink backwards to the frozen area slowly.
6. Do not use a torch or hot iron as heating a pipe quickly can cause it to burst and then you are in BIG trouble.

Tip #2: When you leave town in winter turn off the water supply to the clothes washer. Leave your heat set at 60 degrees and open cabinets and doors so heat reaches pipes. In extreme cases you can shut the main water valve off under the house or leave a small trickle of water run through the line but that is expensive and wasteful.