Frozen pipes prevention and thawing comes from a post from The American Red Cross.

With the intense cold we have had here in Baltimore, I am hearing of a number of people with frozen pipes.

What does one do?

An article on The American Red Cross’s website shares some ideas:

1) Make sure the faucet is open. Once the pipe starts to defrost some, the water can trickle through, and you can *hopefully* help to prevent the pipe from bursting.

2) Apply heat to the spot where it has frozen. Do you have a hair dryer? Can it reach that spot? Check points of entry into the house where the pipe would most likely be the coldest.

3) If you cannot locate the spot where it has frozen, call a plumber!

4) Check your other faucets as well to make sure others aren’t frozen. If they are, make sure those faucets are on/open, even if just a trickle, so when they unfreeze, the pressure doesn’t burst your pipe.

How can I try to prevent frozen pipes?

The article recommends opening cabinets to let warm air flow through.

– Let cold water drip from the faucet to try to help prevent it from getting frozen.

– Do NOT use antifreeze. Let a professional do this if needed. It could harm animals, humans, wildlife, and vegetation.

– Insulate pipes if you can.

– Close inside valves that lead to outside pipes (like where you would attach a hose on the outside.)

– Insulate those outside pipes.

When in doubt, call a plumber. They are the experts! If you have a burst pipe, shut off your water valve and call for help right away!

Good luck, and stay warm, Baltimore!