It would be a shame if this year's holiday season were spoiled by a broken or frozen water pipe in your home.

What should we do if we notice that one of our home's water supply pipes is frozen? According to CAA-Quebec, you need to act quickly to avoid bursting and the damage that could follow.

First, find the frozen pipe. This step will be easier if you're familiar with the structure of your home and its insulation weaknesses. Pipes located near exterior walls are more likely to freeze, especially if they face north.

Frozen pipes can be located in closets, kitchen cabinets or bathroom cabinets. The formation of frost on the pipe will determine which part is affected.

Safe thawing

But how do you thaw a frozen pipe? The ideal tool for doing this safely is a hair dryer. CAA-Quebec recommends opening the tap and then moving the dryer slowly towards the frozen area, making sure to distribute the heat evenly.

Don't have a hair dryer? Small fan heaters, radiant heaters, heat lamps or a high-wattage light bulb are good alternatives.

Important: place the heat source close to the hose for a few minutes, then gradually bring it closer. Caution: do not place the heat source in direct contact with the pipe, nor of course with any potentially flammable surrounding material.

Preventing problems with frozen plumbing

Frozen pipes can often be avoided. Here are a few options for permanently improving your pipe insulation:

- Install foam sleeves around pipes; 

- Wrap insulating tape around “cold” pipes; 

- Wrap a heating cable around the pipe, and plug it in to prevent freezing;