"ever had to thaw pipes at 3 AM with a hairdryer and a flashlight balanced precariously on your shoulder? Just me?"
Haha, can't say I've done the hairdryer balancing act, but I did once spend half the night crawling under my house with a camping lantern and a space heater trying to thaw pipes. Honestly though, after that fiasco, I invested in some heat tape. Yeah, it's a bit of a pain to install, but beats midnight yoga poses under the sink any day...
I've never tried the hairdryer trick either, but I did have a similar late-night adventure with frozen pipes. Ended up using a heat gun and an extension cord stretched dangerously across icy steps—definitely not OSHA-approved. After that night, I took the time to insulate the pipes properly and sealed off drafts around the crawlspace vents. It's tedious work but worth it if you want to avoid turning into an amateur contortionist at 2 AM...
Heat guns can be tricky—I've seen a few melted pipes from folks getting a bit too enthusiastic with them. Glad you got through it safely, though. Insulating and sealing drafts is definitely the way to go. One winter, I had a customer who tried thawing pipes with a propane torch... let's just say it didn't end well. A gentle reminder: always keep a fire extinguisher handy and stick with safer methods like heat tape or pipe insulation. Better safe than sorry at 2 AM.
"One winter, I had a customer who tried thawing pipes with a propane torch... let's just say it didn't end well."
Yikes, propane torches and plumbing definitely don't mix. As a first-time homeowner, I've learned quickly that patience and preparation beat panic every time. Last winter, I woke up to a burst pipe at 3 AM—talk about a rude awakening. Since then, I've insulated everything I can reach and stocked up on heat tape. Lesson learned: slow and steady (and safe!) wins the plumbing race.
As a first-time homeowner, I've learned quickly that patience and preparation beat panic every time. Last winter, I woke up to a burst pipe at 3 AM—talk about a rude awakening.
Totally agree—propane torches are asking for trouble. Had my own midnight plumbing drama last year... ended up using a hairdryer to thaw pipes at 2 AM. Took forever, but hey, no fires or floods, so I'll call that a win.
