Where lines freeze
- Kitchen sinks on outside walls, especially with cabinets closed.
- Lines over garages or in bonus rooms above them.
- Crawlspaces and cantilevered floors.
- Pipes near basement windows or rim joists with gaps.
- Lines to outside taps left on.
Cold snaps with wind are the worst; wind finds every crack in the building envelope.
Safe thawing
Open the tap fed by the frozen line so melting water can flow. Apply gentle heat working from the open faucet toward the frozen stretch using a hair dryer, a space heater kept well clear, or warm towels. Never use a torch, open flame or heat gun on pipes inside walls. If you cannot locate the frozen spot, or the line is behind a finished ceiling, call us. We use pipe thawing equipment and can check for splits before full pressure returns.
If you see water dripping once the pipe thaws, close the main valve right away. The pipe may have split.
Keeping them warm
- Open cabinet doors beneath sinks on outside walls during cold snaps.
- Let a thin stream of water run at the most at-risk tap overnight.
- Seal openings in the rim joist with foam.
- Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves.
- Consider heat cable on lines that freeze every year.
Signs you need this in your house
- No water at one tap
- Frost on pipe
- Bulging pipe
- Cold exterior wall
We open the tap before thawing so melt has a place to go.
Questions people ask us
How long does thawing take?
Often under an hour if the frozen section is reachable.
Should I turn off the main?
Not unless you see a leak. Water flow helps the thaw.