If you live in an area that experiences particularly cold winters, your water pipes could be vulnerable to freezing. Turning your faucet on and finding that nothing is coming out suggest that a section of the pipe has frozen and action should be taken as quickly as possible to thaw the pipe and prevent it from bursting. Whether you do it yourself or call out a plumber to fix the problem for you, thawing a frozen pipe will significantly cheaper than water line repairs due to a burst water pipe.
Whether you are able to effectively thaw the pipe yourself will usually depend on your ability to identify the frozen section and the accessibility of that section of pipe. One of the simplest and most effective DIY methods is through the use of a hairdryer. Remember to leave the faucet connected to the frozen pipe open and heat the pipe from the faucet slowly moving back towards the blockage. This way as the ice begins to melt it is able to run freely out of the pipe.
A heat lamp or portable heater work in a similar way to the hairdryer and work particularly well for thawing pipes running through small spaces. This is another safe and effective DIY method.
Electric heating tape is another technique that should be considered. You wrap it around the frozen pipe and plug it in and the electrical elements inside will heat the pipe. This is also an effective preventative measure and can be left on the pipe and simply turned on whenever you feel the pipe is at risk of freezing again.
If the pipe is not easy to reach or you are unsure of the exact location of the freeze, your best option is to call out for the services of a reputable plumber. They will do the job properly and professionally and be able to give you tips on how to prevent it from freezing over again in the future.
