Plumbing – Extreme cold: Pipes seem ok, except hot water for bathtub which only trickles, despite being closest to water heater. Can it be frozen? Burst

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Situation as described in the question. We have a peer & beam foundation. I already went under the house to check for a possible leak. The bathtub pipes are impossible to get close to, but from about 6-8 feet away I couldn't see any signs of a leak, nor could I hear any water drip or squirt or anything. The hot water pressure on the bathroom sink, which is downstream from the tub, has always been weak but seems normal.

  1. Any ideas on what is likely to cause the lack of hot water for the bathtub?
  2. Should I keep running the hot water trickle, in the bathtub and the bathroom sink? Or should I rather shut off the main and try to drain all pipes?

Unfortunately, I can't access the 5 or so feet of pipes where the problem has to originate from.

Thanks for y'all's advice,
Hannes

Best Answer

If it's frozen the water will not trickle. It may be PARTIALLY frozen in which case running the water should eventually melt the ice and clear the line. Run it slowly so that you don't dislodge the ice and have it block elsewhere.

Any water that is running in your pipes will be > 32F (0C) and should melt any ice it runs past.

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