We live on the outskirts of Ottawa (ON) with a well system. With this cold weather it seems that out pipes have frozen. But we aren't sure weather the pipes have frozen underground or somewhere between the house and where the pipe comes up from underground. It defintely isn't within the house itself as there is no water in the water heater or the water pump. Although we have been getting some dripping from a faucet left on and the toilet bowl seems to fill up over time. Is there anything we can do? Since we can't use the shower, laundry, etc.. we are kind of desperate. The area of the house where the pipe comes in from outside only has a crawl space, with very minimal amount of space between the floor and the dirt.
Answer:
Whatever you do, do not turn the water off because as long as its moving, it shouldn't freeze. You'll probably have to trace this with a heat gun. Keep that tap open and work from that back toward where the pipe enters the crawlspace. That way, if it lets go, you won't blow the whole plumbing system apart - working toward the tap from too far back can do that.
