Previously, we discussed how to keep your pipes from freezing when you go on a winter vacation so you can come back to a fully functional plumbing system. But if you didn’t see our previous blog post and now you’re dealing with frozen pipes, or if a mishap caused your pipes to freeze, acting quickly and correctly now is vital to ensuring you don’t have to deal with expensive plumbing damage later.

Luckily, you can thaw your pipes safely with help from RedFin Plumbing Co. We have advice that can help you get out of this situation without needing costly repairs.

Check out the following steps to understand how to thaw the pipes in your home without causing further damage to them.

Find the source of the issue.

Do your best to discover which pipes have frozen. The process is easy; try running water from each faucet in your home. If the water isn’t running from any given faucet, then the pipes that lead to it are likely frozen. Just remember to turn the faucets off before proceeding to the next steps.

Turn off your water.

Go to the main source of your water supply and turn it off. Turning off the water makes it less likely that you’ll have a leak or that the pipes will burst.

Start thawing your pipes.

If the temperature outside isn’t helping thaw your pipes, you’ll have to take matters into your own hands. Apply heat directly to your pipes, starting with the pipes nearest to the faucets. A heat lamp may be your best bet, but a hair dryer could work in a pinch. As each pipe warms, work your way to the pipe’s source. If the problem is more extensive than just a single pipe or two, you may want to use a space heater at the source of the pipes. Before turning on the space heater, examine the room and remove any flammable materials. Be sure not to leave the space heater running unattended for long.

Note: open flame devices can be dangerous, so we do not recommend using these.

Assess your pipes.

As your pipes thaw, check them for leaks. Hopefully, your caution during the thawing process has paid off. But if leaks and cracks have formed, you’ll need to contact a plumbing professional immediately to remedy the situation.

Insulate against future freezes.

After you’ve completed all these steps, turn your water back on. Then, take steps to protect your pipes from further harm. Follow the advice in our past blog post to ensure you can go on vacation or leave for the day and come back to pipes that aren’t frozen. Taking some precautions now can prevent you from having to call a plumber in the future or thaw your pipes yourself again.

Trust Our Experienced Team

When you need pipe repairs, re-piping, water heater repair, or other plumbing services, turn to RedFin Plumbing Co. We serve Houston and the surrounding areas, providing safe and effective plumbing solutions for our clients at a moment’s notice. In addition to being here for all your repair and installation needs, we hope to teach you how to care for your plumbing system to prevent problems from happening in the first place.

Since 2000, we have provided Houston, TX with the high-quality plumbing services they need at prices they can afford. All our plumbers hold a license with the Texas Plumbing Board, so you know we have the expertise to help with all kinds of plumbing issues.

Stay up to date on the latest plumbing tips and tricks by reading our blog! If you have any questions or need some help, give the RedFin Plumbing Co. team a call. Our trained professionals will be there to tackle your plumbing issue as quickly as possible.