If your pipes are frozen, you need to act quickly but gently so you don’t cause a burst or a fire.

First: Safety and “don’ts”

  • Do not use an open flame (blowtorch, propane heater, etc.) to thaw pipes; this can start a fire or damage the pipe.
  • Do not turn breakers back on if water has leaked near electrical panels, outlets, or lights; call an electrician or emergency services if anything is sparking or smoking.
  • If you suspect a pipe has burst (water spraying, ceiling sagging, walls bulging, rushing sound), treat it as an emergency and call a plumber immediately.

If water is pouring into the home and you can’t control it, get everyone out of the affected area and call your water company or emergency services.

Step‑by‑step: What to do right now

  1. Turn off the main water if you suspect a burst

    • Find your main shutoff valve (often near where the water line enters the house, in a basement, utility room, or under the kitchen sink in some homes).
    • Turn it clockwise until it stops.
    • If you only suspect freezing but don’t see leaks, you can leave it on while you gently thaw, but be ready to shut it off fast.

  2. Open faucets connected to the frozen line

    • Turn on both hot and cold at the affected tap (even if nothing is coming out yet).
    • Open other nearby faucets too.
    • This relieves pressure as ice melts and gives water somewhere to go instead of splitting the pipe.

  3. Find the frozen section (if you can)

    • Common places: along exterior walls, in unheated basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, under sinks on outside walls.
    • Signs: pipe is very cold to the touch, frosty or icy on the outside, or that section runs to a faucet that won’t run while others still work.

  4. Thaw the pipe slowly and gently
    Use one or more of these (never an open flame):

    • Hair dryer: move it slowly along the frozen pipe, starting near the faucet and working back toward the main line.
    • Space heater or heat lamp: aim it at the area, keep it a safe distance from anything flammable, never leave it unattended.
    • Hot towels: soak towels in hot water, wring them out, wrap around the pipe, and replace as they cool.
    • Raise room heat: open cabinet doors under sinks, close windows and vents, and turn up the thermostat so warm air can reach the pipes.

  5. Watch closely for leaks as it thaws

    • Keep faucets open. When water starts to trickle, that’s good—leave the faucet on until flow is normal.
    • Check the pipe for dripping, sprays, or damp spots on nearby walls/ceilings.
    • If you see any cracking or leakage, shut the main water off immediately and call a plumber.

  6. If a pipe has already burst

    • Shut off main water and, if safe to do so, turn off the boiler or water heater.
    • Open all faucets and flush toilets to drain remaining water from the system.
    • Use towels, buckets, and a wet/dry vac (if you have one) to soak up water.
    • Keep people away from ceiling bulges; water‑logged drywall can collapse.
    • Call a licensed plumber; consider calling your home insurance if there’s significant damage.

Short “what if” scenarios

  • No water at one faucet, others are fine
    • Likely a localized frozen section. Open that faucet, warm the pipe in the area feeding it, and monitor for leaks.
  • No water anywhere in the house
    • The main coming into the house or a main internal line may be frozen. Turn up heat, check accessible pipes near where the water line enters, and be ready to call a plumber.
  • I rent / live in an apartment
    • Contact your landlord or property manager right away. Tell them exactly what you’re seeing (which faucets work, whether there are leaks, any noises in the walls).
  • Outdoor spigot is frozen
    • Shut off the interior shutoff valve for that spigot if you have one, open the outside spigot to relieve pressure, and gently warm the area from inside the wall or basement if accessible.

How to prevent frozen pipes next time

Even if things are fixed, it’s worth doing some quick prevention while the cold lasts.

  • Keep the heat on, even at night (often 18–20°C / mid‑60s °F or higher when it is extremely cold).
  • Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air can reach pipes.
  • Let vulnerable faucets drip a thin stream during deep freezes to keep water moving.
  • Disconnect garden hoses and shut off/drain outdoor spigots before freezes.
  • Add pipe insulation to exposed pipes in basements, crawl spaces, garages, and attics.
  • Seal drafts around windows, doors, sill plates, and where pipes penetrate walls.

Mini story example

Imagine it’s 3 a.m., you turn on your kitchen tap, and nothing comes out.
You open the cabinet under the sink and feel a bitter draft from a small gap in the wall where the pipe comes in. The pipe is frosty to the touch. You turn on the faucet fully, grab a hair dryer, and start slowly warming the pipe starting at the faucet side. After a few minutes, there’s a little gurgle and a small trickle of water. You keep the dryer moving, the frost disappears, the flow picks up, and you carefully check the cabinet, wall, and basement ceiling below—no drips, no bulges. Crisis averted, and tomorrow you pick up pipe insulation and seal that draft so it doesn’t happen again. If you tell me what you’re seeing right now (no water at some taps, any visible pipes, any signs of leaks), I can walk you through a more tailored step‑by‑step for your specific situation.