Signs You Have Frozen Pipes

You turn on the kitchen faucet on a freezing morning and nothing comes out, or just a thin trickle. That is the classic sign of frozen pipes, and what you do in the next few minutes matters. Act quickly and carefully, and you can often thaw the pipe before it splits. Do the wrong thing, and you can make it much worse.

Here is exactly what to do, what to avoid, and how to keep it from happening again.

Signs You Have Frozen Pipes

• No water, or only a trickle, from one or more faucets
• Frost on a section of exposed pipe
• A strange smell from a faucet or drain, since a frozen pipe can trap odors
• A pipe that looks bulged or cracked
• Unusual sounds like banging or gurgling when you run the water

If only one fixture has no water, the freeze is probably in the line serving that fixture. If nothing in the house is running, the freeze may be near your main line.

What to Do Right Now

1. Keep the faucet open. As the ice melts, the water needs somewhere to go, and an open tap relieves pressure in the line.
2. Find the frozen section. Check pipes along exterior walls, in the crawl space, in the garage, and under sinks. The frozen part will often be cold to the touch or have frost on it.
3. Apply gentle heat. Use a hair dryer on a low setting, a heating pad, or towels soaked in hot water. Start at the faucet end and work toward the frozen area.
4. Keep going until full pressure returns. Do not stop as soon as a trickle starts, because there may still be ice further down the pipe.
5. Check the other faucets. If one pipe froze, others may be close behind.

What Never to Do

When to Stop and Call a Plumber

Call us if you cannot find the frozen section, the pipe is inside a wall or under a slab where you cannot reach it, or the heat is not working after a reasonable try. And call right away if you see any sign of a crack or leak, because a thawing pipe can start spraying water.

If a Pipe Has Already Burst

1. Shut off the main water supply right away.
2. If water is near outlets or electrical equipment, stay out of the area and shut off power at the breaker only if you can reach it safely.
3. Open faucets to drain what remains in the lines.
4. Take photos of the damage before you start cleaning up, since you will need them for insurance.
5. Call a plumber. Our emergency plumbing team is available 7 days a week.

Which Pipes Freeze Most Often

Pipes in unheated or poorly insulated spaces are the usual suspects: exterior walls, crawl spaces, attached garages, attics, and vacant homes where the heat is turned down. Water lines to outdoor spigots are also common trouble spots, especially when a hose was left connected.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes Next Time

Insulate exposed pipes, seal air leaks near them, keep the heat on, and let a faucet drip during extreme cold. Most of the prevention steps take less than an hour. We also put together a full checklist you can follow before winter in our guide to how to winterize your plumbing, and our maintenance plans include a yearly check of the pipes and valves most likely to cause trouble.

Frozen Pipe Help in Boulder County

If you are dealing with frozen pipes in Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Superior, Niwot, or Gunbarrel, call us at (720) 940-3661. We will help you figure out whether you can thaw it yourself or whether it is time to send someone out. Every technician is licensed with the State of Colorado, and you can verify that through the Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations.