- Keep the faucet open while melting the ice in the pipes. Water flowing from the faucet indicates the thawing of the frozen area. Also, the open faucet alleviates the pressure in the water line if too much heat is applied.
- Apply heat to the pipes nearest the faucet first and work down the water line. Use any heat source available. Hair dryers, electric heat tape and space heaters all provide heat to warm the pipes. In some circumstances, towels or rags soaked in hot water can be wrapped around the pipe. The location of the pipes often determines what methods are applicable for thawing pipes. Working in a crawlspace, for example, may not allow space for wrapping soaked towels around a pipe. Some devices, such as gas or propane torches, should only be used with caution. The high heat poses a fire danger to the building material around the pipes and potential danger to the pipes themselves. Too much heat can increase the pressure in the pipe if the faucet is not left open.
- The design of most buildings protects water pipes from freezing conditions. Still, under certain circumstances, the problem can arise. Frozen pipes commonly occur when there are abnormally cold conditions or when heating systems fail. The first pipes to freeze are usually those that possess the least insulation or are in unprotected areas, such as under-home crawlspaces or garages. Shallowly buried outdoor water lines used for lawn sprinklers or pool supplies can also freeze if not blown free of water before freezing conditions.
- Wrap an electric heat tape around pipes with one loop about every 24 inches. Wrap insulation around the pipe and heat tape assembly, and plug in the heat tape when you anticipate freezing conditions. Heat tape is a flexible electrically-powered heating element that can be wound around the water pipe. The heat tape also thaws the pipes if you did not start the heat in time. Leaving a faucet trickling may waste water, but it also keeps water flowing and prevents freezing in some conditions.