Frozen pipes: What to Do First

Frozen pipes

A faucet that only trickles — or gives nothing — during a hard freeze usually means water has frozen somewhere in the line. The danger is not the ice itself but the pipe splitting and flooding the house when it thaws.

If anyone is in danger, call 911. It is an emergency as soon as water is escaping, or if a frozen line serves your only source of heat.

Do this now

Find your main water shutoff and make sure it turns, in case the pipe has already split.
Open the affected faucet, hot and cold, so melting water and pressure have somewhere to go.
Warm the frozen section gently with a hair dryer, a heating pad or towels soaked in hot water, working from the faucet back toward the frozen spot.
Never use a torch, heat gun, charcoal or any open flame — it can start a fire inside the wall and can burst the pipe.
Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls and raise the thermostat a few degrees.
If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, or water appears when it thaws, shut off the main and call a plumber.

What usually causes it

Supply lines running through unheated spaces: crawl spaces, garages, attics and outside walls
Outdoor spigots left connected to a hose or not shut off from the inside valve
A thermostat set back too far overnight or while the house is empty
Gaps where cold air blows directly onto a pipe

What a professional will do

A plumber locates the frozen section, thaws it safely, and checks the line under pressure for splits that only show once water flows again. For a pipe that freezes repeatedly, the lasting fix is to reroute it into heated space, insulate it properly, or seal the draft that is reaching it.

How to prevent it

Disconnect hoses and shut off outdoor spigots from the inside valve before the first hard freeze
Insulate pipes in unheated areas and seal air leaks around them
In severe cold, let a vulnerable faucet drip and keep the heat at a steady temperature day and night
If you travel in winter, leave the heat on and have someone check the house

Rules and paperwork in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires most contractors who perform home improvements to register with the Attorney General’s office and to give you a written contract for any job over $500. The registration number belongs on the estimate and the contract — ask for it.
Pennsylvania does not issue a statewide license for this trade. Some municipalities register or license it locally, which is one reason to confirm requirements with your own municipality.

Sources: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act; Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Rules change — confirm current requirements with the agency and with your municipality.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know a pipe is frozen and not just broken?

During freezing weather, little or no flow at one fixture while others work normally points to a frozen section. Frost on an exposed pipe or a bulge in it confirms it.

Will a frozen pipe always burst?

No. Many thaw without damage. Pipes split when ice blocks the line and pressure builds between the blockage and a closed faucet, which is why opening the faucet matters.

Does homeowners insurance cover a burst frozen pipe?

Sudden water damage from a burst pipe is commonly covered, but insurers can deny claims where the home was left unheated. Check your own policy and document the damage with photos.

Go deeper

Our full plumbing guide covers how the work is done, what affects the price, and what to ask before you hire, and there is more on leak repair.