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How to Defrost and Protect Pipes

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DIFFICULTY RATING: (2 out of 5 - Easy)

Exposure to temperatures below 20 degrees can cause pipes to freeze and break. A few simple steps can help protect pipes from freezing or defrost them when they do.
Step 3: Protecting a pipe: Open the faucet to a trickle.
Until a pipe has been properly protected from freezing, open the faucet fed by the pipe to allow a trickle a water. This will prevent the pipe from freezing until you can take the next steps to protect it.
Open the faucet to a trickle until the pipe is protected.

Step 3 of 6 (View Full Step by Step)


Aluminum foil (Buy) Electric heating tape (Buy)
Electrical tape (Buy) Heat gun (Buy)
Insulation (Buy) Insulation tape (Buy)
Never use an open flame torch to defrost pipes as this can damage the pipes or start a fire. Be sure to replace uncertified heat tape that is more than three years old with new tape that meets standards.

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Text by Benjamin Hardy
BobVila.com






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