What to Do When a Pipe Freezes: A Connecticut Homeowner's Guide

Every winter, cold snaps in the Farmington Valley freeze pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and unheated basements. A frozen pipe is not an emergency yet, but it can become one fast: as water freezes it expands, and the pressure can split a pipe. Here is what to do, step by step.

Signs you have a frozen pipe

• A faucet gives only a trickle, or no water at all, during very cold weather
• Frost on an exposed pipe, or a pipe that looks bulged
• A toilet that will not refill
• Strange smells from a drain, since a blocked line can push odors back up

How to thaw a frozen pipe safely

1. Open the faucet the pipe feeds. Running water, even a trickle, helps melt the ice and relieves pressure.
2. Find the frozen spot. Look along pipes in exterior walls, under sinks on outside walls, in the basement, garage or crawl space.
3. Apply gentle heat, starting near the faucet and working back toward the frozen section. A hair dryer, a heating pad, a portable space heater kept a safe distance away, or towels soaked in hot water all work.
4. Keep heating until full water pressure comes back, then check every other faucet in the house for more frozen spots.

Never use a propane torch, kerosene heater, charcoal or any open flame. They are a serious fire and carbon monoxide risk, and a torch can damage the pipe itself.

If the pipe has burst

1. Shut off the main water valve right away. It is usually in the basement where the water line enters the house, or near the well pressure tank if you are on a well.
2. Turn off electricity to any area where water is near outlets or appliances, if you can do it safely.
3. Open faucets to drain the remaining water out of the lines.
4. Call a plumber, and take photos of the damage for your insurance company.

How to keep pipes from freezing

• Keep the heat at 55 degrees or higher, even when you are away.
• On the coldest nights, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm air can reach the pipes.
• Let faucets on outside walls drip slightly during extreme cold.
• Disconnect garden hoses in the fall, and shut off and drain outdoor spigots unless they are frost-free.
• Insulate exposed pipes in basements, garages and crawl spaces with foam pipe sleeves.
• Seal drafts around where pipes and cables enter the house.

When to call a plumber

Call a plumber if you cannot find or reach the frozen section, if the pipe is inside a wall or ceiling, if thawing has not worked after an hour, or if you see any leak or crack. A plumber can thaw pipes safely, repair the damage and suggest ways to protect that pipe in the future, such as rerouting it or adding heat cable.