Frozen pipe.., Again

[HisDaisy]

I am really beginning to dislike this winter weather. Last week it was below freezing, then this weekend in was in the 40's. Monday night when I went to bed it was 45 and when I woke up it was 13. I usually like the winter, but this is too much.
Well for the second time in 2 weeks, we have a frozen pipe. The cold water tap in the kitchen as no water. Apparently the pipe runs allow the outside wall near the basement foundation. There is very little, if any, insulation in the basement walls of this old house (built in 1920). Also part of the basement has no heat duct. I can only do so much with the space heater. We rent this house, so we can't make the needed improvements and our landlord really does not care.
Meanwhile, I let my husband sleep, so I have been up all night. I am afraid the pipe might break and flood the basement. I want to be able to turn off the water if it does break. My husband just left for work and is going to try to come home mid morning (he is a newspaper reporter and works odd hours), so that I can get some sleep.
So all I can do now is turn up the heat, run the space heater, and pray that the pipe thaws.

[Holly]

Is the pipe where you can reach it?
If so slowly run warm water ( Not Hot)
over the pipe. It should thaw it really well.
Is there some way outside to puta bail of hay or straw near the pipe?
That will also help so the wind isn't getting to it.
Even an old wrapped up blanket should help. If you have snow on the ground bank it near there also.
Hope this helps you
I'm an old hand at frozen water pipes.
Good Luck to you

[HisDaisy]

Holly,
Thank you for the advice.
I wish I could access the pipe, but is it behind drywall . We are not even quite sure where the pipe is in the wall. I am not sure that I want to tear apart the basement looking for it.

[Holly]

Even I wouldn't tear apart my wall.
I have lived in old houses all my life.
We have had frozen pipes here this year too.
( Old farmhouse no insulation )

[karone]

i hope u can find a solution for it soon. we had that wild weather last nite also. went from like 50 (around 9 pm) to the teens this morning. winds around 30 mph, was scared a huge branch would fall on the house.

[cottageliving]

Do you have a space heater that you can temporarily put in your basement near the wall the pipe is behind?

I'm hoping all is well for you by now.

Keep us posted.

[Domestic Gal]

If you can get it thawed back out. Let the water run a good dribble in the kitchen sink over night when the temps are going to be below freezing. This will keep it from freezing. If there is water running through the pipes they will not freeze. I know this will cost a little $$ but you will have the piece of mind that your pipes will not freeze and burst.

[sdrjeolsen]

If you can find and access the pipe, they sell a tape that you wrap around the pipe & plug in. Lots of the neighbors used them when we lived on the farm -the pipes in those old houses always froze.

[HisDaisy]

Well after hiking the heat up to 70, having the heater run nonstop for more than 24 hours and a space heater running for 15 hours straight, the pipe thawed. Thankfully it did not break. Our landlord was relieved that the pipe did not break, but is not going to do anything to make sure that it does not happen again. I cannot afford to run the heat at 70 24/7 all winter.
Thank you all for your help.

[momtoadiva]

I feel your pain our home 1930's and they put pipes in the kitchen going up to the upstairs bath on an outside wall. grrr we had to cut the pine wall to allow heat to it, for now it looks ugly till we can reroute the pipes but atleast we can shower.