frozen pipes

ws9876

My underground water pipes ,about 5 ft under, froze solid this year while I was away for a couple months. Its been happening this year around the northern places. We have just started warming up now and I notice some condensation coming out of the pipe inside which is open,1 inch copper.Now that we are in the 35-45 degree days and 25 degree nights ..how long do you think before the water starts trickling out which will quickly melt the  freeze plug...the plug might be 20 ft long maybe...????How many days.??

Graham Parkinson

If you have an electrical welding machine, it is quite common to put a current through copper pipes to provide resistance heating to thaw them - Google this and you will find lots of advice.

JRHill

You must go through a lot of welders.

Graham Parkinson

That Bobcat in your signature would work nicely.  A welder is perfect as you can control the current.   Heat = current squared x Resistance!

Project I was on in Kazakhstan involved pumping concrete in minus 40 C weather for grouting a dam foundation - no problem, hook up welder to pumper pipe to keep concrete from freezing!