Hair dryers can work for accessible pipes, but most frozen pipes are in crawl spaces, walls, or other hard-to-reach areas. More importantly, if there’s already a crack from freezing, DIY thawing can cause immediate flooding.
Professional thawing equipment applies controlled, even heat while monitoring for leaks. We also know which pipes to thaw first and how to prevent refreezing during the process.
The biggest risk with DIY thawing is not knowing if your pipe has already cracked. When that ice melts, you could face immediate water damage that costs far more than professional service.