Thaw Metal Water Pipes Electrically

The frozen water pipe and cloth wrapping of bare lamp cord wires twisted together at ends is not shown is not shown. Top long rectangle is long wood stick which we attach lamp cord (bottom small rectangle) to. Right end of lamp cord has bare wires attached together then wrapped in several layers of cloth to cover bare wires. At the other end, both lamp cords are connected to SAME post on wall plug in. I have single switch to show unconnected wall plug terminal. To use. Plug wall connection into wall. Dip the cloth into saturated salt water and hold against frozen metal pipe which will make own ground connection. If hissing and steam does not soon start after holding wet wrapping against frozen pipe- reverse plug into wall outlet to connect power line side to bare wires. Steam should soon thaw pipes. About 6 or 7 amps of current is used in this set up. Caution: Do not make direct connection with bare wires and pipe by a slipping rag or wearing out the rag.

published 10 years ago