I'm here in Calgary, Canada where it's currently a brutal -40 C. Due to the extremely bitter weather, I'm unable to get cold water from my kitchen tap. The tap is a one-arm lever; the extreme left position runs hot water, the right, cold water. My plumber's initial off-site assessment is that the cold water pipes are likely frozen and that I put the lever in the cold water position in an attempt to "unfreeze" the cold water from the frozen pipe. Unfortunately, that didn't work.

Here's my laymen's theory: if the hot and cold pipes run side by side, would it help to thaw out the frozen cold water pipes if I ran hot water through the hot water tap (or pipe)?

Do the hot and cold pipes not run side by side? My thinking is that the heat and steam from the hot water pipe would help to thaw out the frozen cold water pipe?

I have nil know-how in the plumbing world (which is likely obvious), but I look forward to thoughts from you experienced and savvy folks.



Edited 1 times.

Usually there is too much separation between the cold and hot water pipes for your technique to be effective.

If copper piping, a plumber with thawing equipment will be able to thaw out the frozen pipe.