Easy Ways for Illinois Homeowners to Thaw Frozen Pipes

Northern Illinois has officially hit the brutal part of winter when we all start questioning why we live in a place where the air hurts our face, but hold tight...the end is near!

WIFR Chief Meteorologist Mark Henderson posted this on Tuesday morning, and it made me feel better knowing we only have to endure a few more days of terribly cold temperatures...

Tips For Surviving Illinois Winters

I have lived in Northern Illinois my entire life, and there are a couple of things my parents always preach to me about surviving winter:

1. Always keep your car's gas tank at half full when it's cold out. (I'm terrible at following this one).
2. Always keep a blanket, snacks, and boots in your car in case you get stranded in the cold. (I do have a blanket in my car, and I often wear boots).
3. When temps/windchills dip below zero, keep your kitchen and bathroom cabinets open so your pipes don't freeze. (I sometimes remember to do this).

Well folks, we're officially sitting in the prop-your-cabinet-doors-open part of winter, but what can we do if our pipes still freeze?

Easy Ways to Thaw Frozen Pipes With No Tools

It is always my luck that bad house things happen when my husband isn't home to help deal with them, and I'm pretty nervous that thawing frozen pipes might be added to my homeowner resume soon.

Since I really don't want to call my dad crying for help or disturbing my husband at work should something happen, I decided to do a little research.

I do know that using an open flame to try and thaw a frozen pipe is always a horrible idea, but what other things can I use that doesn't require rummaging through my husband's tools?

Here are some common household items that can be used to thaw frozen pipes according to the American Red Cross:

• Hair dryers
• Heating pads
• Towels soaked in warm water
• Space heaters (if nothing flammable is around the frozen pipe)

The first thing you must do before you start thawing a frozen pipe is turn the faucet(s) on. Having water running through the pipe while you work to thaw it will help the ice melt faster, and do not stop applying heat to the pipe until the water pressure returns to normal.

Hopefully none of us will have to put this knowledge to the test this week, but I'm going to dig out my heating pads now...just in case.

RELATED: The Hidden Dangers of Following Tire Tracks on Snow Covered Roads