US Trends

what to do for frozen pipes

If your pipes are frozen, act quickly but carefully to avoid a burst and major water damage.

First, check for emergencies

  • Look and listen for signs a pipe has already burst: water stains on ceilings or walls, dripping, hissing/spraying, sudden puddles, very low pressure followed by a gush.
  • If you suspect a burst or see water leaking, immediately shut off the main water supply to your home, then shut off power to any affected area and call an emergency plumber.
  • Do not use open flames (propane torches, lighters, gas heaters pointed directly at pipes); they are a serious fire hazard and can damage pipes.

What to do right away for frozen (not burst) pipes

  1. Open faucets
    • Turn the affected faucet to cold and hot (if both lines are frozen) so that as the pipe thaws, water and steam can escape instead of building pressure.
 * Start thawing on the section of pipe closest to the faucet and work your way back; this helps melted water flow out instead of refreezing behind ice plugs.
  1. Warm up the area
    • Turn up the thermostat several degrees and keep interior doors open so warm air reaches cold walls, ceilings, and cabinets.
 * Open kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets so room air can circulate around pipes running along exterior walls.
  1. Apply gentle, direct heat to accessible pipes
    Use only safe, gradual heat sources and keep cords and devices away from standing water.
 * Hairdryer on high, aimed a few inches from the pipe, moving slowly along the frozen section, starting nearest the faucet.

 * Electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, set to medium–high, checked frequently so it does not overheat.

 * Towels soaked in hot water and wrapped around the pipe; swap them out as they cool so the warmth stays consistent.

 * Hot‑water bottle laid on top of towels wrapped around the pipe if you need more sustained warmth.

Keep going until water flows normally from the faucet. This can take 30–60 minutes or longer for badly frozen sections.

  1. Use space heaters carefully when pipes are hidden
    • If the pipe is in a wall, ceiling, or crawlspace, point a space heater or heat lamp at the general area, several feet away, and let the space gradually warm up.
 * Never leave space heaters unattended, keep them clear of anything flammable, and follow all manufacturer safety instructions.

What not to do

  • Do not use a blowtorch, charcoal grill, or any open flame to thaw pipes (extreme fire risk and high chance of overheating and cracking the pipe).
  • Do not crank heat so high that the pipe goes from very cold to very hot instantly; rapid temperature changes can stress and crack pipes.
  • Do not ignore sections you cannot see if multiple fixtures have no water; large hidden sections may be frozen and at risk of bursting as they thaw.

After pipes start flowing again

  • Let water run at a trickle from formerly frozen faucets for a while to flush out slush, then check for leaks along the pipe path, in basements, crawlspaces, and under sinks.
  • Watch ceilings and walls over the next 24 hours for new stains or dampness, which can signal a slow leak from a pipe that cracked while frozen.
  • If you find any damp spots or hear dripping in walls, shut off water to that branch or to the whole house and call a plumber.

Simple prevention for next cold snap

  • Keep your home at or above about 55°F (even at night or when away) and open interior doors so heat can circulate.
  • On very cold nights, let faucets on exterior‑wall or uninsulated lines drip slightly; moving water is less likely to freeze.
  • Add pipe insulation (foam sleeves) to exposed pipes in basements, crawlspaces, garages, and under sinks along exterior walls.
  • Seal obvious drafts around foundations, sill plates, hose bibs, and where pipes pass through walls; cold air leaks can target specific pipe sections.

Mini example

Imagine your kitchen sink suddenly has no cold water on a frigid morning, but hot still works. You open the faucet fully, turn up your thermostat, open the under‑sink cabinet, and aim a hairdryer at the visible cold‑water pipe, starting near the faucet end. After 20–30 minutes of steady, gentle warmth and swapping in fresh hot towels, the line begins to drip, then run normally, and you keep it trickling for a while to be sure the ice is completely gone.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.