How to Thaw Frozen Pipes and Avoid Flood Damage

2/24/2017 (Permalink)

Frozen Pipe

Although it’s been a mild winter, the Tri-City area of St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia is no stranger to freezing temperatures and the troubles that come with it --like flood damage from burst frozen pipes. Unfortunately, flooding due to frozen pipes is usually a significant portion of our emergency flood damage restoration services calls this time of year. And while we readily answer these calls for help, we would much rather aid you in trying to prevent such a disastrous event by showing you how to thaw frozen pipes gently.

However, the first part of avoiding a burst pipe is understanding why frozen pipes burst and cause water damage.

Why Frozen Pipes Burst

Frozen water expands, and although the expansion can be as little as 9 percent in volume, the pressure from this slight expansion is great. When measuring pounds per square inch (psi), the pressure inside your pipes can go from the normal 40 psi to 40,000! It's not hard to imagine why a pipe, even strong copper piping, would burst under these conditions.

Because pipes are under such extreme pressure, you must take extra precautions when attempting to thaw frozen pipes.

While many St. Charles residents successfully thaw frozen pipes on their own, we want to stress the importance of personal safety. Use your best judgment when it comes to doing DIY home repairs. Call a plumber when in doubt and call SERVPRO of St. Charles/Geneva/Batavia for flood damage restoration.

Tell-Tale Signs of Frozen Pipes

• Exposed piping may have ice or frost surrounding it as the water on the inside begins to freeze.


• Reduced or no water flow from faucets. We recommend keeping one faucet to a slow stream. Flowing water does not readily freeze and any signs of diminished flow will serve as an immediate warning that your pipes are freezing.

Thawing Frozen Pipes

If you see any of the above signs, immediately turn up your home's thermostat. Open all the vents and doors to allow warm air to flow throughout your home.

Don't forget to open the cabinet doors under sinks! Pipes that are not covered by insulation are susceptible to freezing. Opening lower cabinet doors so that the warm air can reach those areas.

If you suspect a pipe is frozen because you see ice forming around it, you can attempt to heat the pipes directly. There are several ways to do this. However, SERVPRO of St. Charles/Geneva/Batavia recommends these most frequently used methods:

• Using a hair dryer to blow warm air onto the pipe


• Soaking towels in warm water and wrapping it around the frozen pipe


• Placing a space heater in the room where the pipe has frozen. Never leave a space heater unattended

Also, ever use a direct flame on your pipes, such as those from a candle or blowtorch.

As silly as it may sound, knowing how to thaw frozen pipes is a necessary life skill for us in St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia. Icy weather in our community is not a "maybe" but a "when."

Save this blog post for future reference when your pipes freeze and keep our number in your cell when you emergency storm damage restoration.