How to Defrost Frozen Water Pipes in a Mobile Home

Winter brings with it beautiful snow, crisp temperatures, fun holidays and, unfortunately, frozen water pipes. Water pipes freezing in cold weather causes problems because water expands as it freezes, which creates pressure buildup in the pipes. Too much pressure can make water pipes rupture, damaging the pipes but also creating water damage when the temperature rises. Water pipes in mobile homes may be more likely to freeze since these structures may not have as much insulation and other protection from weather. Mobile home owners may use various methods to defrost pipes promptly in order to lessen the chances of rupturing and restore the flow of water to the household.

Preparation

The first step is to turn off the water at the main. This prevents more water from entering the system and creating more pressure. Then turn on the spigots throughout the house. This helps release some of the pressure in the water pipes and helps you discern where the pipe has frozen. If the water comes from the tap on the north side of the house but nothing comes out from those in the south end, then the frozen section is likely toward the south end of the mobile home. If no water comes out of any faucets, check the line right where the main enters the mobile home. Feel along the water pipes to find an area much colder than the others; that is likely where the water pipe has frozen.

Keep in mind that the most exposed water pipes are the ones most likely to freeze, so check those along the outside walls and beneath the mobile home as well as any other areas that don't have a lot of insulation.

Apply Heat

Once you have found the frozen section, defrost it by applying heat. This is where you can use a number of different methods. You can wrap a heating pad around the section, use a hair dryer and run the air along the section, set a small space heater near the section or wrap warm rags or towels around the icy spot. Heat tape specifically made for mobile home use may be most helpful both for defrosting frozen sections and preventing further problems, but be sure what you choose is made for use in mobile homes since the pipes in stick built homes may be made of different material.

If a very large section of water pipe is filled with ice, start warming the section closest to the mobile home first. This helps keep the pressure in the pipe lower and may prevent bursting.

Apply the heat and leave all the faucets in the house open until they all run freely and the ice is completely gone.

Prevention

It's easier to prevent frozen water pipes than to defrost them when they freeze. Put more insulation in areas that are exposed or that have frozen in the past to hold in warmth. Heat tape, regular insulation or even old newspapers can give some protection.

Water pipes typically freeze when the temperature falls below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you expect such extreme temps, open cupboard and closet doors in front of pipes such as under sinks to help the heat circulate and keep them from freezing. Don't let the temperature inside your mobile home drop below 55.

While such measures may not totally prevent mobile home water pipes from freezing, know that frozen pipes don't have to spell catastrophe if defrosted quickly and efficiently.

References

"Frozen Pipes: How to Take the Chill Out!" My Great Home. Mygreathome.com.

"Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes." The American Red Cross. Redcross.org.

"Protecting Frozen Pipes." The Weather Channel. Weather.com.

"Thawing Frozen Pipes." Old House Web. Oldhouseweb.com.