Frozen Pipes ?
Emergency frozen pipe thawing, repair, and prevention services for NYC and Westchester County homeowners.
Frozen Pipe? What Now?
Sometimes a homeowner can safely thaw a frozen pipe without calling a plumber. But before you start thawing anything, there are a few important things you need to do first.
Before You Thaw the Pipe
Locate your main water shutoff valve.
In most homes, the main valve is located toward the front of the building where the water service enters the house, usually near the water meter. Make sure you know where it is and that you can access it quickly.
Why is this important?
A frozen pipe may already be cracked or split. The ice inside the pipe can temporarily act like a plug, preventing water from escaping. Everything may look perfectly fine while the pipe is frozen.
The problem can begin when the ice thaws.
Once the ice melts, water can begin flowing through the damaged section of pipe. What started as a frozen pipe can suddenly become a flood.
Before attempting to thaw a frozen pipe, know how to shut off the water to the house and be prepared to do it immediately.
How to Safely Thaw the Pipe
- 1
Open the affected faucet and leave it open. This gives melting water somewhere to go and can help relieve pressure inside the piping.
- 2
If you can identify the frozen area, raise the temperature in the room and allow warm air to circulate around the pipe.
- 3
If the pipe is accessible, use a hair dryer to apply gentle heat gradually to the frozen area.
- 4
Never leave the pipe unattended while you are thawing it. As the ice begins to melt and water starts flowing again, watch carefully for leaks and be prepared to shut off the main water valve immediately.
NEVER USE AN OPEN FLAME TO THAW PIPE
Never use a torch or other open flame to thaw frozen piping. It can damage the piping, ignite nearby combustible materials and create a serious fire hazard.
When It's Time to Call a Plumber
Every frozen-pipe situation is different. Sometimes the frozen section can be located, safely thawed and the water restored relatively quickly. Other times, the frozen or damaged piping may be concealed behind walls, ceilings or other finished areas.
We use professional pipe-thawing equipment to safely thaw frozen water lines and restore water flow. Once the line is thawed, we check the piping for leaks, splits or other damage that may have occurred while the pipe was frozen.
Our first goal is to restore water while minimizing unnecessary damage to your home. In some situations, we have installed a temporary bypass line to restore partial water service rather than immediately opening walls or ceilings to reach the frozen section.
Once the immediate problem is under control, we can determine where the pipe froze, whether it was damaged, why it froze in the first place and what the best permanent repair should be.
There isn't one solution for every frozen pipe. The building, location of the piping and extent of the damage determine the next step.
Pipe Materials & Freeze Risk
Conducts cold quickly but is rigid. Can split at solder joints or elsewhere under pressure.
Older material common in NYC buildings. Corroded interior walls make freeze damage worse.
Flexible plastic tubing will expand slightly when frozen, reducing the chance of a burst. But the fittings will burst !!
PVC used for drainage and normally should not have standing water. But, water can become trapped in the piping because of a blockage, improper pitch or other conditions. If that trapped water freezes, it can expand and crack the PVC pipe or fittings.