Hi ya'll! Ive done 2 controlled dethaws on houses where everything is frozen and there is no heat. I ran 155,000btu torpedo heater for 5 hrs and it was still frozen.

So I have a doublewide that is frozen, the crawlspace has the feed lines along the floor of the in the crawlspace. So is there a better way? Its really expensive running the heaters, 5 gallons per hour @ $3.5 per gallon times 6 hrs x 2 heaters

There has to be a better way that Im not thinking of.

Thanks in advance!

Normally the knipcos and propane heaters will do it room by room - start at the main and start heading out from there. Otherwise you can by a trindl. (line dethawing unit but are very expensive.)

Jason

www.JJsServices.Net

I thought the Tindl was used for metal pipes.

Why the rapid heating? If you can get (and maintain) the area where the pipes are located above freezing, it is just a matter of time. Make sure all of the areas where there are pipes are above 50 degrees.

If it is not going to be maintained above freezing, then it needs to be winterized after the repairs are completed.

Question: Does 'dethaw' or 'dethawing' mean the same as 'refreeze' or 'refreezing'?

First of the OP's question was a little fuzzy. If you are trying to thaw pipes in a crawlspace - then that is where the salamander should go. some plastic curtains hung from floor joists to ground within the area of the frozen pipes will help concentrate the heat and hold it there longer.

Try heating the area in cycles - not letting the area get below freezing.

I have had best results with this:

1. turn off water heater if power is on
2. turn on heat or heat living areas, concentrate on plumbing walls, open vanity doors, kitchen sink cabinet door, etc.
3. visually check for broken or split pipes, especially checking joints, elbow, valves, etc.

If all pipes are frozen under a house and you can get to the supply lines, disconnect or open drain past the turn off valve - or disconnect.

Starting with water lines closes to main, where disconnected, start the thawing process with heat gun, hair dryer or heat tape. Start and let thawed water drain out of open drain valve or where disconnected, and work your way along the line.

While you are working the line - place space heaters where valves and a high concentration of couplings are, these areas block quicker with ice if not completely thawed.

Work one area at a time and you'll soon get'er done.

Heat tapes work really well but take a little longer.

Good Luck.

Dethawing - lol - I continue to learn new things here everyday