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What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze

Cold winter temperatures can cause water supply pipes to freeze and burst. While plumbers often offer advice on how to avoid frozen pipes, they don’t always explain what to do if your pipes are frozen. Here are several immediate steps you can take to help minimize damage from frozen pipes and prevent them from bursting.

What to Do if Your Pipes Are Frozen

  • Shut off the water main leading into the building.
  • Open any faucets connected to frozen pipes to relieve pressure. Faucets should be open but not fully open. 
  • If frozen pipes are exposed and visible, use a hair dryer or space heater to thaw ice blockages. Do not use an open flame. Keep space heaters far enough away from walls and flammable materials to avoid fire risk!
  • Examine exposed pipes for leaks. Even with the water main turned off, there will be enough pressure to reveal leaks once the pipe thaws.
  • Contact a professional plumber equipped with pipe-thawing equipment to get your pipes flowing again and, if necessary, repair damaged pipes. Even if you see no evidence of leaks, plumbers should examine pipes that experienced a hard freeze. Pipes may need replacing due to stretching and fatigue, which increases the risk of future failure.

Should you shut your water off if your pipes freeze?

Shut off the water main when you suspect you have frozen pipes. Doing so prevents additional water from entering the pipe, freezing, and increasing pressure on the pipe’s sides. Shutting off the water supply minimizes the risk of burst pipes and is particularly important if you are away from home. 

Should you open faucets if pipes are frozen?

Opening faucets reduces pressure within frozen pipes. If the pipe bursts, open faucets also minimize flooding, providing an outlet for water in addition to the damaged pipe. 

How to Keep Pipes from Freezing

Preventing frozen pipes is, of course, the best defense against ice blockages. Take the following steps:

  • Winterize your outdoor pipes. A burst pipe along the outside of a building can still cause indoor damage.
  • Insulate all pipes in cold or exposed areas. Preparing your pipes for winter dramatically reduces the risk of freezing.
  • Seal air leaks around windows, doors, dryer vents, pipes, and electrical outlets.
  • Keep the thermostat to at least 55° F day and night. 
  • Open kitchen and cabinet bathrooms to circulate warm air around pipes. 
  • Slightly open all faucets to a slow drip to maintain some water flow through the pipes. Doing so reduces the risk of ice blockages. Make sure sink drains are open to allow the water to drain away.
  • Disconnect all garden hoses and irrigation systems and drain them.
  • If your home is equipped with indoor shutoff valves connected to outdoor faucets, close the indoor valves, then open the outdoor faucets to drain all water from the pipes. Leave the outdoor faucet open then cover with an insulation kit.

What temperature do pipes freeze at?

Uninsulated pipes can technically freeze at 32°F, but may not experience a hard freeze until temperatures drop below 21°F. Insulated pipes are less likely to freeze and burst but can freeze if temperatures drop below 20°F.

How long does it take pipes to freeze?

Pipes can freeze in as little as six to eight hours, depending on the following factors: 

  • Insulated pipes take longer to freeze.
  • Pipes in unheated or outdoor locations have a greater risk of freezing and bursting.
  • The speed with which the temperature drops impacts how long it takes pipes to freeze. 
  • Wind chill can hasten the freezing process in exposed outdoor pipes.

Will frozen pipes thaw out on their own?

Frozen pipes thaw when the temperature rises, but this comes with significant risks. Leaving frozen pipes to thaw by themselves increases the likelihood of burst pipes and serious property damage. Even if the pipe does not burst, waiting for the ice blockage to thaw naturally can weaken pipe materials, increasing the risk of future leaks or bursts.

How long does it take for pipes to unfreeze?

Left alone, frozen pipes can take days or weeks to thaw, depending on your local climate. 

Trust Roto-Rooter to Deal with Your Frozen Pipes

When frozen pipes burst, they can spew water inside walls and under floors. Contact your local Roto-Rooter plumber when you suspect a pipe has frozen to minimize the risk of burst pipes and severe property damage. Many Roto-Rooter locations also provide emergency water restoration services to address burst pipes and water damage. We're your one-stop service for home and business owners dealing with frozen pipe issues.

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