What Should I Do to Fix Frozen Pipes?

Few things can cause a Cherry Hill, homeowner more stress during winter than frozen pipes. When temperatures plummet, the water inside your pipes can freeze, expanding and putting pressure on the pipe walls. Left unchecked, this can lead to cracks, leaks, or even a burst pipe—turning a small inconvenience into a costly emergency.
If you suspect your pipes are frozen, don’t panic.
Acting quickly and following the right steps can help minimize damage and restore water flow. Cardwell HVAC & Plumbing will walk you through what to do if your pipes freeze, when to call a professional, and how to prevent it from happening again.
Let’s get your pipes—and your peace of mind—back on track!
An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure
When it comes to frozen pipes, a little prevention can save you from a major disaster. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to find your Cherry Hill, home flooded because of a pipe burst—this scenario is not only stressful but often preventable.
With a few simple precautions, you can protect your plumbing and avoid costly water damage.
How You Can Prevent Frozen Pipes
Taking the time to implement these preventative steps can help you avoid frozen pipes, which could be costly. The Insurance Information Institute reports water damage is one of the most common and costliest disasters in your home.
Prior to the cold weather, take these preventative plumbing steps:
• Insulate your pipes. Any pipes on exterior walls or in unheated areas (such as crawl spaces, garages, basements, or attics) especially need attention. Piping insulation favorites are rubber, fiberglass, and foam.
If this is not something you would prefer to do yourself, call one of our knowledgeable Cardwell HVAC & Plumbing plumbers to come out to either advise you or insulate the pipes for you.
• Turn off your outside spigots. If you have one, turn off the inside shut-off valve that provides water to your outside spigots or hose bibbs. Then, drain each line—open the spigot until it stops dripping—and turn off the spigot.
To further protect the outdoor spigot from freezing temperatures, acquire a super-simple-to-install foam dome cover.
• Turn on your faucets. Turn all your faucets on, including your showers, sinks, and tubs, to ensure a trickle of room-temperature water, especially during the night. If the day’s temperature readings remain subfreezing, keep the water running. The continual movement of water in the pipes will help prevent icing.
• Set your home’s temperature to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Never go lower, but do go higher. The higher, the better, especially if your Cherry Hill, home is not well insulated.
• Keep your garage and outside doors closed. Locate any drafts inside and do what you can to block them.
• Open all your doors inside. This allows better heat flow throughout every room and can help keep walled-in pipes warmer.
• Open your cabinets. Keeping your under-sink kitchen and bathroom cabinets open permits warm airflow to reach your plumbing.
• Use a space heater. Under your vigilant supervision, you could utilize a space heater where pipes are located on an outside-facing wall or if you previously had frozen pipes at that spot.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes
If no water comes out of your faucet or if it comes out very slowly, your pipe may be frozen. Do not panic if you find yourself in this situation.
Check all your faucets in your Cherry Hill, home to determine if the freeze is concentrated only at this one pipe. If the freezing is widespread, open all the faucets, turn off the main water to the house, and call one of our professional plumbers. Our Cardwell HVAC & Plumbing plumbers know exactly how to respond.
If only one pipe is frozen, you may be able to thaw it yourself:
• Keep the faucet open, but locate your nearest water shut-off in the event you may need it. (At this point, do not turn the water off unless the pipe has actually burst.) Once the frozen area melts, an open line to encourage the water flow will help melt any remaining ice in the pipe.
• Follow the earlier recommendation regarding using a space heater in the room (again, under your watch). Be sure to keep the cabinet door(s) open and, in this case, the room door closed to target the heat on the affected pipe. It may take some time for the pipe to thaw.
• Try to thaw the pipe with a blow dryer. NEVER use any open-flame device, such as a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, or charcoal stove. Once you locate where the pipe is frozen, work the dryer up and down the pipe. Begin at the faucet and work backward till you reach the frozen area.
Continue to work up and down the pipe until full water pressure returns to the faucet. Once your water flow is back, keep it running at a trickle. When the outdoor temperatures rise again, feel free to turn the water off.
Warning: When using the blow dryer, be sure the cord does not come in contact with any area where the water might start to flow or where any water can come through a crack in a burst pipe. Unplug the blow dryer and immediately turn off the water shut-off valve if water starts to gush from the pipe while you are warming it. Keep the faucet open throughout this particular turn of events. If this occurs or you can’t locate or reach a frozen pipe to warm it, call one of our plumbers.
Cardwell HVAC & Plumbing Is Here to Help With Your Frozen Pipes
Insulating your pipes, keeping a steady indoor temperature, and letting faucets drip during cold snaps can go a long way in preventing future issues. A little preparation today can save you from a major headache tomorrow—and keep your home safe and comfortable through the Cherry Hill, winter months.
Dealing with frozen pipes is no fun, but with the right steps, you can thaw them safely (or prevent them entirely) and prevent long-term damage to your plumbing. Remember, the key is to act quickly and carefully, and when in doubt, call a professional to handle the job.
Cardwell HVAC & Plumbing has the training, experience, and thawing tools to help you with your frozen pipe(s). We are happy to help at any point during this process, so never hesitate to give us a call at 856-208-5088 or request service online.