How to thaw frozen water pipes underground.

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How to thaw frozen water pipes?

1 - Whenever using Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw always invert the bottle and shake it vigorously for about a minute.  Just like paint.

2 - Whenever possible, remove safety seal and safely warm Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw prior to using. ( hot, not boiling ) For your safety, use a pair of kitchen oven mitts or an equivalent hand protection when handling hot materials.

3 - Your water supply is either urban or rural.

URBAN is supplied by a municipality.

RURAL is a self-sustained independent water supply system on the property.

For URBAN water supply:  ( check your local bi-laws and avoid disconnecting your water supply where prohibited by law )

When your water supply line or water supply pipe is frozen it means that the supplied water pressure cannot push through the blockage.  The municipal water being supplied is under pressure.  One the supply side that pressure still exist at the pressure that the municipality supplies it to you.  On your side of the ice blockage the pressure is zero if you have opened your any taps to let off the pressure.  Therefore; if the supplied water pressure was able to push through the ice blockage then you would have water.  Always use safe practices as well as safety equipment.

If you are wanting to restore your frozen water supply then do so in either of the 3 methods described below if the bi-laws in your area permit.

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METHOD # 1 - How to thaw frozen URBAN water supply pipes using the Cold Water pipes in the wall

METHOD # 2 - How to thaw frozen URBAN water supply pipes at the Main Water Supply Intake

METHOD # 3 - How to thaw frozen RURAL water supply pipes

How to thaw frozen URBAN water supply pipes - METHOD #1

URBAN water supply - Method #1 ( how to thaw frozen URBAN water supply pipes )

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Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw has to be poured into the COLD WATER pipe from the highest point.  That pipe currently is full of water.  Open or turn on the highest cold water tap and the lowest cold water tap.  The water in that length or run of pipe will drain out by gravity.  You will end up with an empty length of pipe.  Turn off the lower cold water tap that you saw the water drain from.

You will have to use the highest cold water tap to pour Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw into the pipe.  Use the appropriate tool to remove the cold water handle to remove it from the valve below.  Once you have removed the cold water tap handle you can access the valve.  Remove the cold water valve body by using the proper wrench.  The length of pipe is now empty and the open end is now exposed at the highest cold water valve port.  That means you now have the cold water pipe that you will want to pour Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw in to.

Next; invert and shake your bottle(s) of Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw vigorously for about a minute.  Remove the safety seal.  Whenever possible remove safety seal and safely warm Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw prior to using. ( hot, not boiling )  For your safety, use a pair of proper works gloves or kitchen oven mitts or an equivalent hand protection when handling hot materials.  Always put safety first.

Pour your bottle of Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw into the open end of your highest cold water pipe until the pipe is full.  In some cases the pipe may take more than one bottle or the pipe may only take a portion of the bottle.

Now properly install the cold water valve into the valve body.

Install the cold water valve handle.

Open your cold water valve slightly.

If you have done this correctly, then once Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw has reached the frozen section of pipe, it will begin to eat away at the entire length of the ice blockage until it has reached the other side.  You will know when this has completed because the water pressure will cause the cold water to flow from the highest water valve that you have left open.

Allow the water to flow at full volume for 5 minutes once your ice blockage is cleared.  This brings warmer cold water into the water supply pipe underground.  The 5 minute flush helps to drive the frost out of the pipe walls and away from the pipe.

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How to thaw frozen URBAN water supply pipes - METHOD #2

Method #2 - ( how to thaw frozen URBAN water supply pipes )

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If you are wanting to restore your frozen water supply then do so if the bi-laws in your area permit.

Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw has to be poured into the COLD WATER supply line or supply pipe from the highest point.  In most cases that pipe currently is full of water.

Building Codes in most areas require that an accessible water shut off valve was installed immediately upon the water supply entering the building.  In most cases that shut off valve has a union either on the valve body itself or by the valve.

Using a pipe wrench or any other appropriate wrench loosen the collar nut on the union so that the union can be separated.

Next remove as much standing water as possible to create as much free space or empty pipe length as possible to allow for Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw to be poured into the frozen water pipe.  This can be done using various methods from using tubing or an air compressor or by inserting a length of rope into the pipe.  As the rope goes in the water is pushed out.

Having a near empty pipe is essential to pour Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw into regardless of how remove the water.

Next; invert and shake your bottle(s) of Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw vigorously for about a minute.  Remove the safety seal.  Whenever possible remove safety seal and safely warm Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw prior to using. ( hot, not boiling )  For your safety, use a pair of proper works gloves or kitchen oven mitts or an equivalent hand protection when handling hot materials.  Always put safety first.

Pour your bottle of Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw into the open end of your union until the pipe is full.  In some cases the pipe may take more than one bottle or the pipe may only take a portion of the bottle.

Reconnect the union and make sure that your water shut off valve is still open.

Open any cold water valve slightly.

If you have done this correctly, then once Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw has reached the frozen section of your water supply pipe, it will begin to eat away at the entire length of the ice blockage until it has reached the other side.  You will know when this has completed because the water pressure will cause the cold water to flow from the water valve that you have left open.

Allow the water to flow at full volume for 5 minutes once your ice blockage is cleared.  This brings warmer cold water into the water supply pipe underground.  The 5 minute flush helps to drive the frost out of the pipe walls and away from the pipe.

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How to thaw frozen URBAN water supply pipes - METHOD #3

Method #3 - ( how to thaw frozen RURAL water supply pipes )

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This method is for people who use their own pumping system or gravity feed systems such as well water or systern water or a lake water supply or a river water supply etc.

In all cases Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw has to be poured into the highest point of the frozen COLD WATER pipe.  Typically that pipe currently is full of water.  Some newer systems automatically empty or are supposed to empty which means those systems should be empty.

Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw should be poured into the frozen water pipe or frozen water line at the building end of the pipe.  Typically this is the highest point or is the point where Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw can be poured in above the frozen section of your water supply line or pipe.

Generally there is a union at the pump if you are using a piston pump.  There should also be a union or a simple pipe clamp that can be removed to gain access to the pipe.

Once you have either separated the union or have separated and opened the pipe, you will now remove as much standing water as possible.  This is required so that you have ample space to pour in your bottle(s) of Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw.

Next; invert and shake your bottle(s) of Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw vigorously for about a minute.  Remove the safety seal.  Whenever possible remove safety seal and safely warm Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw prior to using. ( hot, not boiling )  For your safety, use a pair of proper works gloves or kitchen oven mitts or an equivalent hand protection when handling hot materials.  Always put safety first.

Pour your bottle of Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw into the open end of your union or the open end of the pipe itself until the pipe is full.  In some cases the pipe may take more than one bottle or the pipe may only take a portion of the bottle.  This depends upon how much space is empty and available that can be filled with Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw.

Reconnect the union or pipe and clamp or tighten them properly.

DO  NOT  TURN  YOUR  SYSTEM  PUMP  ON !

Woodsmans International is NOT responsible for any damage to your pump and will NOT replace any pumps.

Open any cold water valve.

If you have done this correctly, then once Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw has reached the frozen section of your water supply pipe, it will begin to eat away at the entire length of the ice blockage until it has reached the other side.

DO  NOT  EXPECT  YOUR  PUMP  TO  PUSH  or  PULL  WATER  BY  LEAVING  IT  TURNED  ON.

Turn you pump on for a couple of seconds ONLY.

You will know when Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw has completely reached the other side of your ice blockage because the water pressure will cause the cold water to flow from the cold water tap that you opened.

Test your system by turning on the pump for a couple of seconds ever couple of hours.  If water does not flow from the open cold water valve immediately then turn off your pump.

Once you test your system and see water is beginning to flow from the open cold water tap then you are good to go.

Allow the water to flow at full volume for 5 minutes once your ice blockage is cleared.  This brings warmer cold water into the water supply pipe underground.  The 5 minute flush helps to drive the frost out of the pipe walls and away from the pipe.

Click here to access and online calculator to show you the ratio of Liqui-Fire Pipe Thaw for your frozen pipe.

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How to thaw frozen water pipes underground

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