Thaw Frozen Pipes Safely

(Undated) — With below-freezing temperatures continuing, you are reminded to leave water dripping somewhere in buildings where pipes are prone to freezing. According to a State Farm Insurance report, Illinois ranks first in the nation for frozen pipe damage. If your pipes do freeze, HowStuffWorks.com offers a couple of steps to thaw them safely. Step one is to open faucets so the steam produced by your thawing activities will be able to escape. Step two is to start thawing at the faucet and work back toward the other end of the frozen section. They say you should never use a torch or other direct high heat on plastic pipes. They suggest trying a heat lamp or hair dryer as the heat source. These work more slowly but are much safer. Learn more information about how to thaw your pipes at howstuffworks.com.