Question

Will frozen water pipes thaw on their own?

Answer 1

Yes frozen water pipes will eventually thaw out on their own once the weather warms up enough above freezing.

If the weather doesn't warm up above freezing then no the water pipes will never thaw out on their own until the weather warms up.

If it's gonna stay freezing or below freezing and your water pipes are thawed you'll have to thaw them out yourself or have someone help you thaw them out if you want water.

You'll need to find the place where the water pipes are frozen so that you can thaw them out and if you're unsure where the water pipes are frozen then it will be hard to thaw them out.

If you can find where the pipes are frozen you can pour cold water over the water pipes and they will sometimes thaw out.

Or use a hair dryer or heat gun to thaw the pipes out but if the pipes are plastic they can melt with the heat gun so be careful and be careful to not catch anything on fire.

Answer 2

When water pipes freeze they will stay frozen until the temperature outside gets warm enough or until you warm up the area enough to allow the water pipes to thaw.

If you can use a hair dryer or a heat lamp on the frozen water pipes they should eventually thaw out and the water should begin flowing again.

Just note that when water pipes freeze they tend to burst which can cause water to spray all over the place so keep an eye on the frozen water pipes and leave faucets open to allow the water pressure to push out the faucet instead of against the water pipes.

There's been times I've had to wait 2 weeks before my water pipes would thaw out so that's one reason I gather water and store it when the temperature is gonna be freezing for an extended period of time.

Also leave the faucets dripping some to keep the water moving since moving water doesn't freeze as fast as non moving water.

Answer 3

When water pipes are frozen and you cannot fix them yourself you would call a plumber to thaw the frozen pipes out for you.

When you have frozen water pipes you call a plumber to come out to help thaw the frozen water pipes.

Also if you have broken water pipes the plumber will need to replace the broken water pipes which can get costly.

In extremely cold temperatures it may be hard and even impossible for a plumber to get the water pipes to thaw and sometimes you'll need to wait for a warmer day.

During extreme cold you should make sure to keep water available for drinking, bathing etc so gather water up before it gets too cold and possibly freezes the pipes.

Also having a frost free water hydrant in your yard is a good idea too so that you can still have water if your other water pipes freeze up.

Frozen water pipes can thaw themselves out if the water pipes are warm enough to thaw.

You can also pour cold water over the water pipes to help thaw them out but make sure to leave a faucet open so the water can flow through and reduce the pressure on the water pipes.

If your water pipes are under the house you can place a heater safely under the house and allow the water pipes to get some heat.

Or if you have a basement make sure to try and keep the basement above freezing which prevents frozen pipes and any exposed pipes outside should be insulated and protected from the wind and cold.

The reason water pipes tend to burst in winter is because of the ice molecules expanding.

As that ice expands it pushes against the pipe which then causes the pipe to burst or crack open.

Basically the way frozen water pipes burst is when water freezes inside pipes, the water molecules expand.

The ice in the water pipes then expands and pushes the water toward the faucet, causing a significant amount of pressure buildup between the ice blockage inside the pipe and the faucet which then leads to the water pipes bursting.

Frozen water pipes don't always burst.

However most water pipes do eventually burst and it also depends on the material the water pipes are made from.

Copper Pipes, PVC, CPVC pipes etc all tend to crack or burst when frozen.

The pex pipe does not burst when frozen though as it can stretch.

To prevent frozen water pipes make sure to leave a water faucet or water faucets dripping and running at a slow stream of water flow.

The water flowing through the pipes reduces the water pressure on the pipes and prevents the pipes from freezing up.

This helps to prevent frozen pipes and also prevents burst water pipes.

Also insulate any exposed water pipes and use some heat tape for water pipes to keep them from getting too cold and freezing.

Water pipes freeze when they get as cold as 32 F or below and if the wind is blowing the water pipes can freeze faster.

To thaw and fix frozen water pipes you call a plumber.