❄️ Winter Guide
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What to do if a pipe freezes or bursts

If a pipe has ALREADY burst and water is leaking

1. Shut off the Main Water Valve immediately. 2. Open the lowest faucets in the house to drain remaining water out of the lines. 3. Turn off the electricity or gas to your Water Heater so the tank does not burn out or overheat if it drains. 4. Never step into standing water if electrical outlets or cords are wet.

If you turn on a faucet on a freezing morning and nothing comes out—or only a tiny trickle—a pipe is frozen. Act immediately: a frozen pipe has not necessarily burst yet, or the ice blockage itself may be plugging a crack that will spray as soon as the ice melts.

If you only do three things

  1. If a pipe is frozen (no water from tap): Leave the faucet turned ON in the open position so melting ice and steam have somewhere to escape.
  2. Know where your Main Water Shutoff Valve is and stand ready to turn it off the moment the ice melts, in case the pipe already cracked.
  3. Warm the frozen pipe gently with a hair dryer, space heater, or towels soaked in warm water—NEVER use a propane blowtorch or open flame.

Step-by-step: How to thaw a frozen pipe

  1. Turn the affected faucet ON completely. As you warm the ice plug, water will start flowing and help melt the rest of the ice from the inside.
  2. Find the frozen section: Look under sinks on exterior walls, in unheated closets, basements, or where the pipe enters the house. The frozen spot is often frosted over or noticeably colder to the touch.
  3. Apply gentle heat starting closest to the open faucet and working toward the cold section (so melted water isn't trapped behind the ice plug).
  4. Use a hair dryer, a portable space heater aimed toward the cabinet, an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, or towels soaked in hot water.
  5. Once full water pressure returns, inspect the pipe and wall carefully for any dripping or hissing sounds. Let all faucets in the house drip until outdoor temperatures rise above freezing.

Never use a blowtorch or open flame

Every winter, homeowners set their walls on fire trying to thaw pipes with propane torches. High heat can also boil trapped water inside the pipe and cause it to explode.

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