Frozen pipes can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare, causing significant water damage and costly repairs. Let’s look at the problem and consider some helpful advice to prevent the worst outcomes.
Why Are Frozen Pipes a Problem?
When water freezes, it expands and needs more space than when it is liquid. And if the frozen water exerts more internal pressure than the pipe can handle, the pipe can split, leading to severe water damage and costly repairs to your home once the pipe thaws and water begins flowing again.
Not all pipes break when they freeze, however. Many times, a frozen pipe will thaw and water flow will return to normal without any problems. But a cracked pipe is always a risk, so it is always best to prevent frozen pipes if possible, and to prepare to take action if a broken pipe is discovered.
How do I know if my pipes are frozen?
One of the most obvious signs is when you turn on a faucet or other fixture during a cold snap, and no water comes out.
If you have an infrared thermometer gun or similar device, you can test the temperature of the exterior of the pipe to verify, but if the temperature outside is unusually frigid and your tap normally works but doesn’t, the water supply line is probably frozen.
You may also see frost on the exterior of exposed pipes, particularly those located in unheated areas or along exterior walls. And in some cases, you may even see bulges or cracks in the pipes themselves, indicating that the pipe has burst and needs prompt attention.
What should I do if my pipes are frozen?
Let the froze pipes thaw naturally
When customers call us to report a frozen pipe, our advice in most cases is simply to wait for the weather to warm up, let the pipe thaw naturally, and be prepared to shut off your water if you start to see leakage.
If a pipe is going to burst, it will happen when the pipe initially freezes, so once you notice a frozen pipe any damage will have already occurred. You’re not going to prevent a burst pipe once a pipe is frozen; it has either burst or it won’t.
Turn off your water if you leave the house
If you do have a burst pipe, it could start to leak at any time. So make sure you know the location of your main water shutoff – or any intermediate shutoff valves – and be prepared to turn it off at the first signs of a leaking water pipe.
Additionally, if you leave the house, be proactive and turn off the water supply while you are gone. If you do have a burst pipe and it begins to flow while you are away, you could face significant water damage when you return home.
Leave the affected taps open slightly
When you discover frozen pipes, open the faucets connected to the frozen pipes to relieve pressure and allow water to flow as the pipe thaws. You’ll want to leave these faucets open, at least slightly, until running water is restored.
Call a plumber if you can actually see a cracked pipe
If your pipes are frozen, there’s no point in opening up walls or trying to track frozen lines when there’s a good chance there is no breakage.
However, if you can actually see a break or crack, you can go ahead and call a plumber to repair the pipe without waiting for it to thaw. Pipes typically only burst in one location, so if you can see the break, that’s probably going to be the only one, and you can go ahead and fix it. However, there’s no guarantee. You’ll still need to monitor your system as the weather warms to make sure there aren’t other hidden breaks.
How do I thaw my pipes?
If you decide that you don’t want to wait for your pipes to thaw naturally, you can attempt to thaw them yourself, though once again we don’t generally recommend it. If some sections of the pipe are hidden, you won’t be able to manually thaw them, and there’s not much point in thawing the exposed portions.
When thawing frozen pipes, it’s crucial to approach the task carefully to avoid causing further damage. The gentlest method is to use a space heater to slowly warm the air around the pipe, as long as the space is not too confined.
A more direct way to thaw a pipe is to use a hair dryer, focusing the warm air directly on the frozen section. You can also try wrapping a section of the pipe with an electric heating pad, or you can wrap towels soaked in hot water around the pipe, replacing them frequently to maintain heat.
We would not recommend using an open flame, like a propane torch. There is a risk that thermal shock could cause the pipe to crack, as well as a chance that any nearby flammable material could catch fire.
Always begin by applying heat to the section of pipe nearest to the faucet and work your way back. This method allows pressure to release as the ice melts, and will allow water to flow once you have made some progress.
How do I prevent my pipes from freezing in the future?
Protecting your pipes from freezing temperatures is far easier and less costly than dealing with the aftermath of pipe bursts. Here are some helpful tips to keep pipes from freezing in the first place.
Unhook hoses from outdoor spigots, even “frostproof” ones
The vast majority of burst pipe calls we get are due to hoses full of water that are left connected to outdoor spigots (hose bibbs). This prevents the spigot from draining and allows water to freeze in the pipe behind it (inside the house).
Even if you turn off the shutoff valve inside the house, if you leave a hose full of water connected to the spigot, it cannot drain and is at high risk of freezing and breaking.
This applies to “frostproof” spigots as well. What makes them resistant to freezing is that the valve turns off deep in the wall, allowing water to drain. But if you leave a hose hooked up to it, it cannot drain as designed and will freeze and burst as easily as a basic spigot.
Part of your annual process when fall turns to winter should be to winterize your outdoor plumbing, but it is particularly important in a cold snap when temperatures reach extreme levels.
Insulate pipes and seal drafts
Insulate exposed pipes, especially pipes in unheated areas or along exterior walls. You can use shaped-foam pipe insulation to provide an extra layer of protection against cold temperatures, but any form of insulation is better than nothing. Consider using heat cables or heat tape on particularly vulnerable pipes (always following the manufacturer’s safety instructions).
Seal any leaks or drafts near pipes to prevent cold air from reaching them, and seal off crawlspaces and other open areas where cold air can get in.
Yes, “Dripping” faucets does work
When the temperature drops, open vulnerable faucets and allow them to drip slightly to keep water moving inside the pipes. Moving water is actually more resistant to freezing than standing water. Of course, if it gets cold enough, even moving water will freeze, but in many cases, it can make all the difference.
Keep your home’s heat high enough
Maintain a consistent temperature in your home, even when you’re away, to keep the ambient temperature around your pipes well above freezing. Some articles suggest keeping your heat at a minimum of 55 degrees, while others say 68 degrees. Ultimately, it depends on how vulnerable your pipes are to the cold, but it’s always better to keep your heater and thermostat set higher than lower when pipes may freeze.
Also, be sure to open cabinets and other interior spaces to allow heat from your furnace to reach water pipes where they might otherwise get cold.
Call Service Force Plumbing When You Need Help
If you need help identifying and insulating vulnerable water pipes, or if you do have a cracked pipe that is leaking, you can call Service Force for the best advice and service in the area. We are your proven, locally owned and operated plumbing company with hundreds of five-star reviews. Use the quick contact form or call 301-370-8320 to get help today.
About the Author: Roy Barnes is co-owner and the service manager at Service Force Plumbing. He has decades of pipe repair experience and has been widely consulted about frozen pipe topics for national publications like the Washington Post, US News and World Report, and Family Handyman.
