|
|
||
|
|
THAW FROZEN PIPES FIRE-WISELY
‘Tis the season to discover frozen pipes. People coming back home from vacation, or going to the cottage near the ski lift for the first time in months, or waking up after the furnace goes on the blink…these people and more face the challenge of thawing frozen pipes. The challenge is really two-fold. First, of course, you want to get the pipe thawed out. But it is equally important to achieve the goal without burning the house down. Using a heat torch calls for great care. For those of use who aren’t welders or U.S. Army flame-thrower experts, the torch may be the hottest, most dangerous open flame we ever handle. Read and follow label directions referring to lighting techniques, when and how far to open the valve, and how far to hold the torch from the pipe. Wherever possible, apply the flame to a portion of the pipe which is not in close proximity to wood framing members in your basement ceiling. If your basement is finished, remember that most suspended ceiling tile and wood paneling can burn – get it well out of the way. If you use the torch close to wooden framing – for example when a water pipe is anchored to or near the basement ceiling joists throughout its length – reach up between the joists with your torch hand. That way the flame strikes the pipe level or at a downward angle – flammable wood surfaces are less directly exposed to the flame. When torch-thawing pipes, it is a good idea to keep two things close at hand; one is another person, the other is a working fire extinguisher. |
|
|
|
||
