How do you unfreeze main outdoor pipes quickly?

Answer 1

Before you read on make sure the faucets are open, ready to release the melted ice- water expands as it heats and if it has no place to go the pipes can burst- harming you and destroying your Plumbing! The best bet is to use a hairdryer -Not a blowtorch- it could take more than a few minutes though- you can also try running warming strips along the pipe and using some type of insulation tape so the pipes won't freeze again in the future.

Answer 2

Use a kerosene heater, if available. to use a kerosene heater, stay away from the room you are running it in and allow some sort of ventilation. it may or may not work. leave the kerosene heater running for awhile and turn off for 20 minutes. repeat.

Answer 3

There is no way to SAFELY unfreeze a pipe QUICKLY- a sudden thermal shock may cause the pipe to shatter. Gradual application of heat is required. If the pipe is exposed, you can use warm air from a heater, blow dryer, etc. If buried, there are other problems- the earth on top of the pipe is below freezing, and will need warming- or the pipe will refreeze almost at once. Using a gas torch is generally a bad idea- one part will thaw, and water turn to steam, but it is blocked by ice in the rest of the pipe. This will burst the pipe. If it is a drain line, you may be able to thaw it with a jetter using WARM (not hot) water.

Answer 4

The most efficient and quickest way is to wrap the pipe with cloth, like a towel, and pour hot water on it.

Answer 5

The easiest way would be use of a water Jetter with warm water so as not to thermo shock the piping

Answer 6

I unfreeze them with a propane blowtorch.