How to unfreeze frozen pipes?

This is my first winter in a cold climate, and not knowing any better, I turned off my heat while I was going to be gone over the weekend. I returned to my apartment on monday, and my pipes had frozen. I turned the heat back on, turned on the faucets a bit, and have been gone since then. Returning today (Wednesday), my pipes are still frozen and the heat's back up to 70.

I have located the freeze, I believe. There is a copper pipe covered in foam tubing, and it's very cold to touch. It feels frozen. The only heat device I have immediate access to is a blowdryer. Is that the best course of action? Should I just aim my hair dryer up and down the pipe until it melts? Or should I leave my heat on and my faucets slightly open and let it unfreeze on its own?

I'd prefer not to have to call a plumber if at all possible.

Thanks!

How to unfreeze frozen pipes?

If your water pipes freeze, you may want to call a plumber. Without experience, it's dangerous to try to unfreeze pipes yourself. If a plumber is not available, here are some helpful hints:

Use "heat tape," available from local hardware stores.

Pour hot water on the pipes.

Wrap rags around the pipes and pour hot water on the rags.

Once the water is flowing again, let it run until the danger of freezing passes. Run cold water rather than hot. Cold water will prevent re-freezing, and you won't waste energy heating water that will just go down the drain.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

The best cure for frozen pipes is prevention. Follow these basic steps:

Wrap your hot and cold water pipes with at least two inches of insulation or with insulation tape specifically designed for pipes.

Disconnect hoses from outside faucets.

Protect faucets by wrapping newspaper or insulation around them or by installing specialized faucet insulators, available at most hardware stores.

Drain sprinkler systems.

If you're worried about pipes freezing overnight or while you're away from home, leave a small trickle of cold water running in faucets both inside and out, furthest from the meter. This is most important for pipes that run along an outside wall. This helps prevent freeing because moving water takes longer and is harder to freeze than water that is standing still. The trickle needs to be a steady stream that's the approximate diameter of a standard pencil lead. Also, leave cabinet doors open in front of pipes to expose them to the heated interior of your home.

How to unfreeze frozen pipes?

Torch.

How to unfreeze frozen pipes?

sit on them

How to unfreeze frozen pipes?

They will not unfreeze on their own.

Using a hair dryer or a blow torch can do the trick.

You can also heat heat packs in the microwave and place it on them.

How to unfreeze frozen pipes?

electric heating pad will do it slowly, but if the pipes are frozen hard, you may have to replace a joint Or two and if the pipe is copper, then you have to s use solder and if you can't soder you call the plumber.

How to unfreeze frozen pipes?

A hair dryer may work if you know where the frozen section is. You will need to apply the heat directly to the copper pipe to have an effect. I would not recommend a torch since it sounds like you a novice and a torch could easily start a fire. ( remember you have no water available to put it out). Otherwise as the heat from the apartment saturates the pipe it will thaw on its own.

How to unfreeze frozen pipes?

Your hair dryer is the best way to heat the pipe if you know exactly where it's frozen. But this will take some patience and holding. Leave the heat on and keep any doors to that area open so the heat can circulate to the pipes. Take the foam tubing off the pipe for now until it thaws out. Good luck

How to unfreeze frozen pipes?

Hairdryers are what the plumbers use here in Vermont so go for it. Do NOT use anything bigger or stronger or you risk bursting the pipes. This most likely won't happen again unless where you live often gets temps like we've had this year. If it IS going to be this cold again you can leave the faucet on (just a tiny trickle) while you're away. What you'll pay for that amount of water is worth it to avoid major plumbing issues. It also helps to open the cabinets under the sinks so some heat can reach them.