How To Thaw Pipes

No water on a cold morning? Frozen pipes are the likely cause. In many parts of the country, homeowners get lots of practice with frozen pipe prevention. Here in a milder climate it’s not as common but sometimes pipes freeze here, too.

If on these cold mornings you have no water the most likely cause is freezing temperatures. When we get a call for help with a “no-water” problem on a freezing morning, we usually find one of two things has happened. Either the pipes have frozen, or much more likely, the control device that tells the pump to start has frozen and the pump simply cannot start. Here are some things you can try yourself to get the water flowing again.

1. Did you have water available when you first tried to use it but then it stopped after a few gallons? If so, the pressure switch may be frozen.The pressure switch is the device that tells the pump to start when you use water. Because it is small and usually exposed it is often the first thing to freeze. If it does, you will be able to use water that is already in your pressure tank (if any) but once that’s gone the pump will not start running to add more water to the tank. Here’s how to thaw it out.

Note the small pipe or tube under the switch. This is the most likely part to freeze and if it does the switch cannot sense that you need water. If you can gently heat up this part often that’s all it takes to get the pump running. You can use a hair dryer if there is an electrical outlet nearby. Be careful. You just want to warm it, not melt it.

You can also use a warm washcloth. there may be water available in the toilet tank (the reservoir on top, not the bowl). If you heat some water on the stove you can wrap a warm cloth around the pipe or tube to warm it up.
Note: Sometimes we see pressure switches without a protective cover over the electrical parts. This is dangerous. If there are exposed wires, call for professional service.

2. Sometimes the pipes themselves will freeze and require thawing. This is less common but it does occur. If you have water available at the well or pressure tank but not in the house, frozen pipes is the likely cause. If you can use a hair dryer to warm exposed pipes that will usually solve the problem.

Tips:
1. Dont trust your pressure gauge to tell you if you have water pressure in the systems. The gauges often freeze and give erroneous readings.

2. If you open a faucet and there is no water, close the faucet. Otherwise water will start running when the pipes thaw, possibly flooding the house if left unnoticed.

3. Insulate your pipes to keep them from freezing. In a pinch, even a tarp thrown over the pipes will often preven freezing.

4. In a really cold, hard freeze (Re Christmas week 1990) no amount of insulation is completely effective. You may need an electric pipe-wrap device sold in hardware stores.

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