Preventing Frozen Pipes and Frozen Pipe Replacement

Winter can bring major plumbing issues if water pipes aren’t protected from freezing. Just one burst pipe in a home, running at four to eight gallons a minute, can do tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

By doing some maintenance around your home, you can effectively prepare for colder weather and prevent pipes from freezing. But if nature has beaten you to the punch, resulting in frozen and burst pipes, count on Mr. Rooter® Plumbing for fast and reliable services.

Need professional help with pipes? Call your local Mr. Rooter® Plumbing

Burst Pipe Repair

When a house’s water pipe bursts, there is no time to waste. Your first call should be to your local Mr. Rooter Plumbing. We offer fast and effective service for homeowners dealing with this problem.

We start by assessing the damaged pipe to determine the best remedy. In some cases, we can repair a pipe by patching the affected section. But in most cases, it’s best to replace the entire section of pipe. This provides the safest protection against more water leaking from the pipe in the future. Mr. Rooter can repair or replace all types of supply lines and waste pipes, including PVC, PEX, galvanized, copper, and more.

Frozen Pipe Services Near Me

Would you like more information about how to prevent frozen pipes in your house? Or do you need help with a pipe that’s already frozen? Contact the team of skilled plumbers at your local Mr. Rooter by requesting a job estimate online.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to avoid frozen pipes at home:

Open a faucet and allow a very small trickle of cold water to run to keep the water moving.
Keep warm air circulating around your pipes by opening the under-sink cabinet door.
Place a small fan near your pipes and cabinets to keep the air moving.
Make sure basement doors, windows, and crawl spaces are properly sealed and weather-stripped.
Insulate your external and exposed pipes with necessary pipe insulation materials along with an electric heat tape.
Drain your sprinkler system before the winter season.
Disconnect and drain all outdoor hoses and water spigots.
Seal and insulate your attic, and consider replacing drafty windows and doors.
Consider installing storm windows and protective plastic coverings for colder areas of the house.

What causes frozen pipes to burst?

Burst pipes can occur when the water inside a pipe cools below freezing, causing ice to form. As water turns to ice, it expands, resulting in pressure buildup that can exceed 3000 psi. That kind of pressure can split water supply lines and will eventually lead to water damage when the ice thaws.

Do PEX pipes burst?

Because they’re flexible, pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) are far less likely to burst than PVC or metal pipes. But yes, it’s still possible for them to burst.

Who handles frozen pipes underground?

Because underground temperatures stay relatively steady, it’s rare for underground pipes to freeze. But if it happens, who’s responsible for handling it? That depends on where the pipe is located. If the frozen section is within your property boundaries, you will need to call a plumber for assistance. If the affected pipes are beyond your property line, contact your municipal water source to handle it.

What to do when your pipes burst:

Turn off your home’s whole home main water shut off valve.
Call your local emergency plumber.
Contact your homeowner’s insurance provider to file a claim.
Open water taps and flush toilets to remove the remaining water from pipes.
Warm up the house by turning up the heat.
If you can, start cleaning up the water.

How to thaw frozen pipes behind drywall:

There are several methods you can try to thaw a frozen pipe in walls:

Make sure the water heater is on, and run the hot water taps to verify the hot water supply lines are not frozen.
Turn up the heat in the home.
Use space heaters to speed up the heating process.
Point an infrared or heat lamp toward the wall containing the frozen pipe.
In extreme cases, the drywall may need to be removed to access the frozen pipe.

Related Services

If you could use a hand with more winter home care tasks, trust Neighbourly^® to connect you to the top home services in your area, like these:

The Grounds Guys^® provides residential ice management and snow removal services to complement their other landscaping and lawn care services.
Rainbow International^® provides water damage cleanup and restoration services for homeowners dealing with the aftermath of a burst pipe.
Handyman^® provides window and door weatherproofing in addition to many other handyman services.