Frozen & Burst Pipes
How to tell frozen from burst, how to thaw a pipe safely, and how we repair the damage and stop it from happening next winter.
New Dundee, Wilmot Township, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Milton, Halton Hills, Acton, Rockwood and Georgetown
Frozen or burst?
A frozen pipe has ice blocking it. Nothing leaks yet, but the pressure behind the ice can split the pipe. A burst pipe is already open, and you will see the water as soon as it thaws.
Shut off the main water valve first, then call 548-255-2662.
First steps
| Don’t | Do |
|---|---|
| Use a torch or open flame | Use a hair dryer or warm towels |
| Leave the tap closed | Open the tap so water can flow as it thaws |
| Heat the middle of the pipe | Start at the tap end and work back |
| Wait if water appears | Shut off the main valve right away |
| Ignore a bulge in the pipe | Call before it thaws, it may split |
Frozen and burst need different first steps.
Split pipe is cut out and replaced, not taped.
We look at why that pipe froze.
Insulation, rerouting or a frost-free tap.
Before the next cold snap
Frost-free taps
A frost-free outside tap only works if the hose comes off in the fall.
The shutoff valve on a frost-free tap sits deep inside the warm wall, and the long barrel drains out through the spout every time you turn it off. Leave a garden hose attached and that water can’t drain. It sits in the barrel, freezes, and splits the pipe inside the wall, where you can’t see it.
Most people find out in the spring. They open the outside tap for the first time and water runs into the basement ceiling or the wall behind it instead of out the spout. By then the drywall, insulation and flooring below can be soaked.
Take the hose off every fall, before the first hard frost. Leave the tap closed and let it drain.
Fixing it after the fact is the expensive way. An emergency call has a 2-hour minimum, about $460 before any repair, and a burst usually runs over $500 plus the damage inside the wall. Taking the hose off costs nothing, and having us check or replace a doubtful tap in the fall is a scheduled visit at regular rates.
Locally owned since 2018
Questions we get asked
One tap gives little or no water while others work, often on an outside wall. The pipe may feel icy or have frost on it.
Open the tap, then warm the pipe with a hair dryer or warm towels, starting near the tap. Never use an open flame.
Not always, but it often does. Watch for water as it thaws and know where your main shutoff is.
Most pipe repairs fall between $300 and $3,000 plus HST, depending on access. If it can’t wait for a regular booking, an emergency repair usually costs about double the same repair done on schedule.
$230 an hour for one plumber, or $366 an hour when the job needs two, plus HST and materials. There is a 2-hour minimum, and the time runs from when the plumber leaves his driveway until he gets back home. That means an emergency call starts at about $460 before any repair, and once something has burst it is usually over $500. An emergency repair ends up about double the cost of the same work booked ahead, which is why it pays to deal with a problem pipe or a hose left on a frost-free tap before the cold arrives.
It runs through a cold spot, like an outside wall or crawl space. Insulating or rerouting fixes it for good.
Often, if it was sudden. Take photos and call your insurer. We can give you a written report.
Frozen & Burst Pipes
Shut off the water if it’s leaking, then call 548-255-2662.
CALL US! 548-255-2662
