As temperatures drop, the risk of a burst pipe shattering your peace of mind (and your drywall) skyrockets. When water freezes, it expands with incredible force—force that can easily split a copper or plastic pipe. The resulting water damage can be catastrophic, destroying flooring, collapsing ceilings, and leading to hazardous mold growth in as little as 24 hours.
Prevention is simple, effective, and far less expensive than a full-scale water damage restoration project. This guide will cover the essential DIY prevention tips and the emergency steps to take if the worst happens.
Proactive Prevention: How to Winterize Your Pipes Before the Freeze
Protecting your home’s most vulnerable points before the cold sets in is the key to avoiding a disaster.
Identify Vulnerable Pipes
First, you need to know where the danger lies. The pipes most at risk are those in unheated spaces or areas with poor insulation. Take a walk around your home and inspect:
- Pipes in attics, crawl spaces, and unheated basements.
- Pipes located on or against exterior walls.
- Plumbing in uninsulated cabinets, especially under kitchen or bathroom sinks.
- Any outdoor plumbing, such as hose bibs (spigots), pool supply lines, or sprinkler systems.
Insulate, Insulate, Insulate
The simplest and most effective defense is insulation. You can buy pre-slit foam pipe sleeves from any hardware store. They are inexpensive and easy to install—just cut them to length and tape them securely. For pipes in attics or crawlspaces, ensure the surrounding area is also well-insulated.
Use Electric Heat Tape
For pipes that are extremely vulnerable or have frozen in the past, electric heat tape (also called a heat cable) provides active warmth. This product plugs into an electrical outlet and runs along the length of the pipe, automatically turning on when the temperature drops near freezing. Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions precisely and use a UL-approved product to prevent fire hazards.
Simple Pre-Freeze Actions
When you know an extreme cold snap is coming, take these final steps:
- Disconnect and Drain: Disconnect all garden hoses from your outdoor spigots. If you don’t have a frost-free spigot, turn off the shut-off valve for that pipe inside your home and open the spigot outside to drain any remaining water.
- Let Faucets Drip: During the coldest nights, letting a faucet (both hot and cold) on an exterior wall drip slowly can prevent a freeze. Moving water freezes much more slowly than standing water.
- Keep Thermostat Consistent: Don’t set your thermostat too low, even when you’re away from home. Keeping the temperature consistent, even just at 55°F (13°C), is crucial for protecting your plumbing.
- Open Cabinets: Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors under sinks to allow the warmer air from your home to circulate around the pipes.
What to Do If You Suspect a Frozen Pipe
Even with good prevention, a sudden, deep freeze can catch you off guard.
How to Spot a Frozen Pipe (Before it Bursts)
The first sign of a frozen pipe isn’t a flood—it’s a lack of water. If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle (or nothing) comes out, you likely have a frozen pipe. You may also see frost on the exterior of the pipe itself.
How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Pipe
If you find a frozen pipe, you need to act fast but safely.
- DO: Keep the faucet open. As you thaw the pipe, the running water will help melt the ice. Apply gentle, even heat to the frozen section using a hairdryer on a low setting, a heating pad, or by wrapping the pipe in warm cloths.
- DON’T: Never, ever use an open flame. A blowtorch, propane heater, or lighter is a major fire hazard and can damage the pipe, causing it to burst.
- DO: Start thawing near the faucet and work your way back toward the frozen blockage. This allows the melting ice and steam to escape.
Emergency Action: What to Do If a Pipe Bursts
If the worst happens and a pipe splits, follow these steps calmly and quickly to mitigate the damage.
Step 1: Shut Off the Main Water Supply
This is the most critical step. Every homeowner should know where their main water shut-off valve is and how to use it. It’s often located where the main water line enters the house—in a basement, crawl space, or utility closet. Turning this valve will stop the flow of water and prevent any further flooding.
Step 2: Shut Off Electricity (If Safe)
If the burst pipe has flooded an area with electrical outlets or appliances, do not enter the standing water. If you can safely access your home’s breaker box, shut off the electricity to the affected area to prevent a dangerous risk of electrocution.
Step 3: Document the Damage
Once the immediate dangers are handled, safely take photos and videos of the burst pipe and all affected areas. Document the standing water, damaged drywall, ruined flooring, and any affected belongings. This evidence will be essential for your insurance claim.
Step 4: Call a Professional Restoration Company
A burst pipe is not a DIY cleanup job. You are dealing with hundreds of gallons of water that have soaked into your home’s structure. A professional restoration company has the industrial-grade extraction equipment, high-velocity air movers, and dehumidifiers to remove the water completely.
Calling a 24/7 emergency restoration service immediately is the only way to prevent secondary damage, such as structural rot and, most importantly, hazardous mold growth, which can begin in as little as 24-48 hours.
Don’t Wait for a Disaster
Prevention is always your first and best defense against frozen pipes. But if a disaster strikes, time is critical. A fast response from a certified water damage restoration team is essential to protect your property, your health, and your peace of mind. If you’re facing a water damage emergency, call our 24/7 team immediately.
