Frozen Sump Pump

How does one safely thaw a sump pump?  Between the extremely low temperatures we have had lately and not having heat in the house on a 20 degree day due to a dead thermostat my sump pump has frozen.  The water level in the sump pump well is just below the lip of the well.  Basement floor is dry thus far.  Boiler is close to the sump pump well so this could become a serious issue when it next rains.  Please advise.

joan_crystal said:

How does one safely thaw a sump pump?  Between the extremely low temperatures we have had lately and not having heat in the house on a 20 degree day due to a dead thermostat my sump pump has frozen.  The water level in the sump pump well is just below the lip of the well.  Basement floor is dry thus far.  Boiler is close to the sump pump well so this could become a serious issue when it next rains.  Please advise.

Boil some water and pour on top, if you have room.

Or try a hair dryer.

yahooyahoo said:

joan_crystal said:

How does one safely thaw a sump pump?  Between the extremely low temperatures we have had lately and not having heat in the house on a 20 degree day due to a dead thermostat my sump pump has frozen.  The water level in the sump pump well is just below the lip of the well.  Basement floor is dry thus far.  Boiler is close to the sump pump well so this could become a serious issue when it next rains.  Please advise.

Boil some water and pour on top, if you have room.

Or try a hair dryer.

Also, ice takes up more space than the equivalent water once melted, so you may have more space than you think to try this approach (or a combination of the two.)

Hair dryer? Space heater?  All fixed already?

Could one of the space heaters that the kids brought over be set up close to the pump?