Prevention:
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas paying attention to pipes that run along the floors, ceiling and outside walls (don't forget the garage!)
- Disconnect any garden hoses.
- Be sure to seal any foundation cracks that you may have that would allow cold air into crawlspaces.
- Open cabinet doors under the kitchen sink and bathroom vanities.
- Let a small trickle of water flow from your faucets during the extreme cold.
- Keep all exterior doors to unheated areas CLOSED! (utility rooms, garage, exterior yet attached storage rooms)
- If you are going out of town be sure to have a neighbor check on your water pipes while away.
- If you are going to be gone for an EXTENDED period of time or you have a vacant property you should have the water pipes drained.
After the Fact: (frozen but not burst)
- SHUT THE WATER OFF!
- Be sure to familiarize yourself with shutoff valves.
- Never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch.
- Turn up the heat in the house to warm the surroundings (if an inside pipe)
- Infrared lamps can help to heat up a pipe.
- A hair dryer can be used to warm up the frozen area of the pipe.
- Heat lamp or portable heaters.
- Electric heat tape applied to frozen pipe.
A frozen water pipe can spell disaster should it burst. If you are in need of advice for water damage you can check out a post I have on What's Your Circa - while the post may have been written during hurricane season it still addresses water damage regardless of the cause.
Water Damaged Historic Homes - What to Do.
Stay warm my friends! It's COLD in Wake Forest NC!
