If your water pipes freeze, focus on 3 things: prevent a burst, thaw safely, and know when to call a pro. Here’s a clear, SEO‑friendly guide in a “quick scoop” style.

If Water Pipes Freeze: What To Do

Meta description: Learn exactly what to do if water pipes freeze: how to find the frozen section, safely thaw pipes, avoid bursts, and when to call a plumber. Homeowner‑friendly, step‑by‑step guide.

Quick Scoop

If water stops flowing in freezing weather, assume a pipe is frozen and act fast but calmly. Your main goals are to shut down risk, gently thaw, and watch for leaks.

Step‑by‑Step: What To Do First

  1. Stay safe and think ahead
    • If you see bulging pipes, hear hissing, or see water stains, treat it as an emergency and be extra cautious.
 * Keep children and pets away from the area.
  1. Shut off the main water supply
    • Find the main shut‑off valve (often near where the main line enters the house, basement, utility room, or under the kitchen sink).
 * Turn it off to limit how much water can escape if the pipe is already cracked.
  1. Open nearby faucets
    • Open both hot and cold taps attached to the suspected frozen line.
 * This relieves pressure in the pipe and gives thawed water somewhere to go.
  1. Locate the frozen section
    • Check unheated or exposed areas: basement, crawlspace, attic, garage, under sinks, exterior walls, outdoor spigots.
 * Signs: frost on the pipe, very cold sections, or areas you know are poorly insulated.

How To Safely Thaw Frozen Pipes

Only try this if the pipe is easy to reach and you feel safe doing it. If anything looks damaged, skip to the “Call a pro” section.

Safe ways to warm the pipe

  • Hair dryer
    • Move it slowly along the pipe, starting from the faucet end and working back toward the frozen area.
* Keep it away from standing water and don’t touch wet surfaces with the tool.
  • Space heater or heat lamp (careful placement)
    • Position it a safe distance from the pipe and from anything flammable like wood or insulation.
* Never leave it unattended and follow the heater’s safety instructions.
  • Warm towels or hot‑water bottles
    • Soak towels in hot (not boiling) water, wring them out, and wrap them around the pipe.
* Replace as they cool to slowly raise the temperature.
  • Warm air from the home
    • Open cabinet doors under sinks, and consider temporarily turning up the home’s heat to help warm cold wall cavities.

Think of thawing like defrosting food: slow, even warmth is your friend; sudden, intense heat is your enemy.

Methods to avoid (dangerous!)

Never use:

  • Blow torch or any open flame
  • Kerosene or propane heaters indoors
  • Devices that can overheat or boil trapped water inside the pipe

These can start fires or cause pipes to burst violently.

Watch For Leaks While Thawing

As the pipe thaws, cracks may only reveal themselves once water starts flowing again.

  • Keep faucets open
    • You should see a trickle, then a steady stream as ice melts.
  • Check for dripping or spraying water
    • Look at ceilings, walls, and floors around the pipe for damp spots or staining.
* Listen for running water where there shouldn’t be any.
  • If you see a leak:
    1. Turn the main water valve off again immediately.
2. Turn on all taps to drain remaining water out of the system.

3. Put down towels or buckets to soak up or catch water, and move valuables out of the area.

4. Call a licensed plumber or emergency service.

When To Call a Plumber Right Away

You should stop DIY efforts and call a professional if:

  • You can’t find the frozen pipe but have no water.
  • The frozen pipe is inside a wall or ceiling (you’d need to cut into the structure).
  • You see a bulge, crack, or active leak.
  • You’re uncomfortable using electrical devices near water.
  • You’ve tried gentle thawing for a while and nothing changes.

Many plumbers use thaw machines or specialized tools that can clear frozen lines quickly and with less risk of damage.

Quick Prevention Tips (For Next Cold Snap)

Once the immediate crisis is under control, take steps so you do not repeat this story every winter.

  • Drip faucets on especially cold nights so water keeps moving.
  • Insulate vulnerable pipes in basements, crawlspaces, and garages with foam sleeves or wraps.
  • Seal drafts around pipe penetrations, sill plates, and outdoor wall openings.
  • Keep heat on in cold rooms; don’t let indoor temps plunge when you’re away.
  • Shut off and drain outdoor spigots before hard freezes, leaving the outside valve open so any remaining water can expand harmlessly.

Mini Scenario: A Nighttime Freeze

It’s 6 a.m. on a January morning. You turn on the bathroom tap—nothing. The house feels colder than usual.

  • You shut off the main water, open the affected sink faucet, and peek into the unheated crawlspace.
  • You spot a section of copper line frosted over. You plug in a space heater several feet away, open the vanity doors, and use a hair dryer starting at the faucet side.
  • After about 15 minutes, the tap starts to drip, then run. You scan the ceiling below and the crawlspace for any leaks, find none, and then turn the main valve fully on.
  • That weekend, you insulate that pipe run and add heat tape as extra insurance for the next cold snap.

Simple HTML Table: Key Actions

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Situation</th>
      <th>What to Do</th>
      <th>What to Avoid</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>No water on a freezing day</td>
      <td>Assume frozen pipe, shut off main valve, open faucets, look in unheated areas for frost-covered pipes.[web:1][web:3][web:5][web:9]</td>
      <td>Ignoring it and waiting hours without checking for damage.[web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Found accessible frozen pipe</td>
      <td>Gently thaw with a hair dryer, space heater at safe distance, or warm towels; start from faucet end.[web:1][web:5][web:7][web:9]</td>
      <td>Using open flames, torches, or extremely high heat sources.[web:1][web:5][web:7][web:9][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Pipe starts leaking while thawing</td>
      <td>Turn off main water, open all taps to drain, soak up water, and call a plumber.[web:1][web:5][web:7]</td>
      <td>Leaving water on, walking away, or letting water pool in ceilings or floors.[web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Frozen pipe inside wall</td>
      <td>Stop DIY, call a professional with proper thaw equipment.[web:3][web:10]</td>
      <td>Cutting random holes or overheating concealed pipes.[web:3][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Before next freeze</td>
      <td>Insulate pipes, drip taps, shut and drain outdoor lines, seal drafts.[web:3][web:8][web:9][web:10]</td>
      <td>Leaving outdoor hoses connected and uninsulated pipes exposed.[web:8][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Tiny TL;DR

If water pipes freeze, turn off the main water, open faucets, gently warm the pipe with safe heat (never flames), and watch closely for leaks. Call a plumber immediately if you see damage or can’t safely reach or thaw the pipe.

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