If you find a frozen pipe, go to your main water shutoff first. Close it if you see a crack, a bulge or any water, or if the pipe runs where you can't see it. Then open the faucet that pipe feeds and warm the frozen section gently with a hair dryer, heating pad or space heater, never an open flame. If the pipe is split, or you can't find or reach the frozen spot, call a plumber. And if water already got out, the clock on drying has started.
How Do I Know a Pipe Is Frozen?
The usual sign is a faucet that gives only a trickle, or nothing at all, on a cold morning while other faucets still work. You may also see frost on an exposed pipe. The American Red Cross lists the likely spots: pipes against exterior walls, where the water service comes through the foundation, and lines in unheated areas like crawl spaces, garages and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
A frozen pipe isn't always a broken one. But water expands as it freezes, and a split often stays hidden until the ice melts and water starts moving again.
Step 1: Get to the Main Shutoff Before It Thaws
The main shutoff is usually where the water line enters the house, often in the basement, utility room or crawl space. A round handle closes clockwise. A lever is closed when it sits across the pipe.
If you can see the whole frozen section and it looks intact, you can leave the water on while you thaw it, but stay close to that valve. If you see a crack or bulge, any dripping or spreading water, or the pipe is inside a wall or ceiling, close the main now. A split pipe that thaws with the water on can flood a room quickly. If the valve won't turn, don't force it. Call a plumber.
Step 2: Open the Faucet
Open the faucet that the frozen pipe feeds. If the water is still on, flowing water helps melt the ice. If the main is off, an open faucet lets the line drain. Check your other faucets too, because if one pipe freezes, others may have as well.
Step 3: Thaw It Gently, With No Open Flame
Safe ways to warm a frozen pipe include:
An electric hair dryer
An electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe
A portable space heater, kept away from anything that can burn
Towels soaked in hot water and wrapped around the pipe
Never use a torch, a propane or kerosene heater, a charcoal stove or any other open flame, and keep heaters and cords out of any water. Keep applying heat until full water pressure comes back. If you can't find the frozen section, can't reach it or can't get it to thaw, call a plumber.
Step 4: If the Pipe Split, Call a Plumber
Keep the main shutoff closed and call a plumber. A split line or cracked fitting needs a proper repair. If the break is inside a wall or ceiling, the plumber may need to open it, and we can work around that opening when we dry.
While you wait, don't touch outlets, cords, light fixtures or the electrical panel if water is near them. Call an electrician or your electric utility. Keep people out from under any sagging ceiling.
A frozen pipe split and leaked? Call Blue Valley at (913) 395-8488. Open 7 AM–9 PM, every day.
Step 5: Deal With the Water That Already Got Out
Once the water is stopped, take photos and video of the pipe, the water and every wet room before you clean up, and keep the plumber's invoice. Then get drying started. The EPA says it's important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24–48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Water from a split pipe rarely stays where you see it. It runs under baseboards, wicks up drywall, soaks carpet pad and drips into the ceiling below. Household fans won't dry the inside of a wall. We check walls, floors and ceilings with moisture meters, remove only what won't dry, and run air movers and dehumidifiers until the readings are back to normal. Our burst pipe water damage page explains that process, and emergency water removal covers pulling up standing water. For the full checklist after a break, see what to do when a pipe bursts.
De Soto Homes
De Soto sits along the Kansas River, west of Shawnee and Lenexa. More than half of its homes have been built since 1990, and many of the rest date from the 1970s and 1980s. A newer home can still freeze at the same weak spots: exterior walls, outdoor faucets, garages and where the water line comes through the foundation. In older homes, an original shutoff valve can be stiff, so find and test yours before a cold snap. De Soto is served from our Olathe location. See our water damage restoration in De Soto page for more.
Preventing the Next One
A pipe that froze once can freeze again unless something changes, so ask your plumber about insulating or rerouting it. Our post on how to prevent frozen pipes has the before-winter checklist: disconnecting hoses, insulating exposed pipes, sealing drafts and keeping the heat steady.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I shut off the water if a pipe is frozen?
If you can see the whole pipe and it isn't cracked or leaking, you can usually leave the water on while you thaw it, staying near the main shutoff. If you see damage or water, or the pipe is hidden, shut off the main first.
Will a frozen pipe always burst?
No. Many thaw without damage. But you often won't know about a split until it thaws, so watch the pipe as it warms.
How soon should I call about the water?
As soon as the water is stopped and the area is safe. Drying should start within 24–48 hours.
Does insurance cover damage from a frozen pipe?
It depends on your policy and the circumstances, so ask your agent or adjuster. See does homeowners insurance cover water damage? We document the damage, the cause and the drying so your adjuster has a clear record.
Call Our Restoration Team
If a frozen pipe split and put water in your De Soto home, call Blue Valley at (913) 395-8488. Open 7 AM–9 PM, every day. We're IICRC Certified & Fully Insured. We'll find where the water went, explain what can be dried in place and give you a free evaluation.