With the cold setting in, CBJ Utilities division shares how to defrost any frozen pipes you might have.
- Locate the frozen section
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- Check unheated areas: basements, crawl spaces, garages, and exterior walls. The most likely frozen place is where your water line exits the ground to enter the home.
- Look for pipes that are very cold to the touch or frosted.
- Open the faucet
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- Turn on both the hot and cold handles a small amount.
- Running water helps melt ice and relieves pressure as the pipe thaws.
- Warm the pipe gradually
Use one of the following methods:
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- Heat Tape: an electric tape made for keeping pipes warm. Available at most hardware stores.
- Portable space heater: Keep at a safe distance and never leave unattended.
- Open Cabinets: open cabinet doors to allow radiant heat from the home to reach the plumbing.
Never use open flames—no torches, no lighters, no blowtorches. These can cause fires, burst pipes, or carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Keep warming until full water pressure returns
Be patient—slow and steady warming is safest.
- Prevent future freezing
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- Let faucets drip during extreme cold, especially overnight.
- Keep cabinet doors open to let warm air reach pipes.
- Add insulation to exposed piping.
- Seal drafts around windows, doors, and foundations.
- Know when to call a professional
If you can’t find the frozen spot, can’t restore water, or suspect a burst pipe, contact a licensed plumber immediately. CBJ is unable to thaw private lines.