Attempts to thaw a frozen pipe caused a fire in Port Colborne.
Emergency crews were called to 108 Sugarloaf Street just before 11:30 a.m. this morning.
Firefighters battled the smoke and cold weather to douse the flames that had spread through the walls and floors of the lower portion of the home.
Officials say the fire was sparked by careless use of a heating device to thaw an external frozen pipe.
Damage estimates ring in at more than $400,000.
Thankfully, there were no injuries reported.
Officials with the city of Port Colborne remind homeowners to never use open flames or welding tools to try to thaw a frozen pipe.
Port Colborne officials offer the following tips to avoid frozen water pipes in your home:
- Open kitchen, bathroom and laundry cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing.
- Outdoor faucets are the first to freeze. Disconnect, drain, and shut off any outdoor hoses and faucets.
- Insulate pipes most prone to freezing, especially near outside walls and in crawl spaces, attic and garage, with a pipe sleeve.
- If your pipes are prone to freezing, consider contacting a plumber for advice on how best to protect your home.
- Leave a tap open enough for a pencil-thin stream of flowing water, so there is some movement of water in pipes that might be vulnerable to freezing.
- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
If your pipes are already frozen, consider the following steps to thaw them:
- If you have a poorly insulated crawlspace, the frozen pipe may be in this area.
- Turn on a tap in the lowest point in the house (i.e. the cold water faucet in the basement).
- Use a blow dryer for one to two hours to warm the suspected frozen pipe. Check the blow dryer regularly to ensure it does not overheat.
- Place a warm towel or rag around the suspected frozen pipe.
- Depending on the outside temperature and the extent of freezing within the pipe, the thawing process could take between one and six hours.