Thawing Frozen Pipes
Water can freeze in pipes that pass through a cold
location. Water expands when it freezes. Unless the pipe
through which it runs also expands, it will burst.
Insulation gives a pipe some protection at low
temperatures but may not prevent freezing. To keep a pipe
from freezing, wrap electrical heating cable around it--
one turn every 2 feet--then cover the pipe with
insulation to conserve the heat. Plug in the cable when
the temperatures drops below freezing. The same cable
device can be used to thaw a pipe.
There are other effective thawing methods. One of
the best is pouring boiling water over rags wrapped
around the frozen pipe. Heating with a propane torch
works quickly, but take care that steam pressure does not
burst the pipe. Do not heat a pipe to a higher
temperature than your hand can stand. Be very careful not
to start a fire.
When thawing pipes with a heat lamp, hair dryer,
household iron, or propane torch, always work from an
open faucet toward the frozen area. This will keep steam
from being trapped by ice and bursting the pipe. With the
faucet open, you can see when the ice has melted. Do not
use un-grounded electrical appliances outdoors, or near
grounded water pipes.