Frozen pipes thawed

If you are experiencing the unfortunate dilemma of frozen or burst water pipes - or just the prospect of your pipes freezing in your walls, crawlspace, basement or cabin, there are a few things you need to know.

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, a frozen pipe may be at fault, especially if the current or previous night's temperature is at or below freezing.  The best thing to do in this situation is to call a professional.

It can be dangerous to thaw a pipe with an open flame, which will probably also damage the pipe.  If there is any standing water due to a burst pipe, even using a device such as a hair dryer can be hazardous, as using electrical appliances in areas of standing water can cause electrocution.

Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are all vulnerable to freezing, especially if there are cracks or openings that allow cold, outside air to flow across the pipes.  Typically a frozen pipe is located an outer wall, which can be inaccessible.  If you're not sure of the location of the frozen pipe, trying to figure it out yourself is not advisable.

Always Know Where and How To Shut Off Your Main Water Supply

A common sense aspect of frozen pipe prevention is to learn how to shut off the water supply to your house. If you don't know where this valve is, find out immediately, before it is too late.