Can we talk about using a hot water hose to thaw frozen valves?

I was on a job up in Port Townsend last February and we had a valve on a hydraulics system freeze solid. The usual trick with a torch was too risky near the hydraulic lines. Some old diver told me to hook up a garden hose to the hot water outlet on the boat's engine. I ran that hose right to the valve and let it run for maybe 10 minutes. The ice broke loose and we were back to work without damaging anything. Has anyone else found a weird trick like that for dealing with cold water gear?

2 comments

2 Comments

finley_price2425d ago

And honestly that hot water trick is way gentler on the seals and hoses than a torch. Ive done something similar with a pressure washer running on just hot water no soap, just let it mist over the frozen fitting for a few minutes. Takes some patience but beats cracking a housing.

grace_wright24d ago

Wait, is this something you figured out yourself or did someone pass it on to you, @finley_price24? A buddy of mine tried the hot water trick last winter on his truck's frozen brake line, and he said it worked like a charm after a few minutes of gentle drizzling. He swore he'd never go back to the torch after watching the plastic fittings just pop loose without any cracking.