Lawrence Water Damage Pros(785) 555-0142

A frozen pipe burst: what to do right now

Pipes in exterior walls, crawlspaces and garages are the ones that freeze in a Lawrence cold snap. The leak usually starts when the pipe thaws. Here is how to handle it.

Call (785) 555-0142Call any time, day or night. Free, no obligation.

If water is coming out now

  1. Shut off the main valve. It is usually where the water line enters the house, in the basement or crawlspace. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
  2. Open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain what is left in the lines.
  3. Turn off power to any room where water is near outlets or fixtures, if you can reach the panel from a dry spot.
  4. Call a plumber for the pipe and a restoration company for the water. Call us and we will connect you with a local water damage company. Many can line up a plumber too.
  5. Take photos of the break and the damage before cleanup starts.

If a pipe is frozen but not leaking yet

Signs: a faucet gives a trickle or nothing at all on a cold morning, or you see frost on an exposed pipe.

  • Leave the faucet open so water can flow when the ice melts.
  • Warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer, a heating pad or warm towels. Start near the faucet and work back toward the frozen spot.
  • Never use an open flame or a torch.
  • Check the pipe closely as it thaws. If it split, it will start leaking the moment the ice melts. Have your hand near the main valve.

Which pipes freeze in Lawrence homes

  • Lines in exterior walls, especially on the north side of the house.
  • Pipes in crawlspaces with open vents.
  • Lines running through attached garages and old enclosed porches.
  • Outdoor faucets that were not shut off and drained for winter.
  • Pipes in kitchen and bathroom cabinets on outside walls.

Keeping it from happening again

  • Keep the heat at 55 degrees or higher, even when you leave town.
  • Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls during cold snaps.
  • Let a faucet on an outside wall drip on the coldest nights.
  • Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain outdoor faucets in the fall.
  • Insulate pipes in crawlspaces and garages, or ask a plumber about heat tape.
  • If you leave for a winter trip, ask someone to check the house every day or two.

The City of Lawrence also publishes cold weather tips for preventing frozen pipes during winter weather.

Related services in Lawrence

Ready to get a crew on the way?

  • Where the water is coming from, if you know (pipe, water heater, washer, toilet, sump, rain).
  • Whether it is clean water or sewage.
  • Which rooms and floors are wet, and roughly how long it has been wet.
  • Whether the water is shut off and the power to wet rooms is off.
  • Your street or nearest cross street in Lawrence, so the right local crew picks up.

Stay on the line for a couple of minutes. That is usually all it takes to get matched with a local company that can send someone out.

Call (785) 555-0142

Free to call. No obligation to hire anyone.

Questions people ask before they call

Does insurance cover a frozen pipe burst?

Often yes, if the home was being heated. Some policies limit coverage when a home is vacant and heat was not maintained. Check your policy and call your agent.

How do I know if water got into the walls?

Look for bubbling paint, stains, soft drywall or swelling baseboards near the break. A restoration crew will check with moisture meters, which find water you cannot see.

Call now (785) 555-0142