Frozen / Broken Water Pipes
1. Preventing Frozen Plumbing
Protect your home or business from frozen pipes during the winter months.
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Keep your home or apartment thermostat temperature set to at least 55 degrees. This
applies to single-family homes as well as apartments.
Do not block heat to areas of your residence that contain plumbing or water fixtures.
Keep doors open to bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and cabinets that contain
pipes, especially those located on the north side of the dwelling, to expose the plumbing
to warmer air inside the house.
Prevent drafts of cold winter air by keeping windows and storm windows closed. Repair
cracks or holes around doors and windows to keep cold air from blowing in.
Cover pipes in unheated areas with heat tape or pipe insulation (follow manufacturer’s
instructions). Make sure heat tapes are properly installed and working safely.
If you plan to be away from your residence for an extended period of time, ask someone
to check your house or apartment periodically. Show them what to do if water pipes
freeze and where to locate your water shut-off valve in case of an emergency.
Thawing Frozen Plumbing
If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Locate the
suspected frozen area of the water pipe. Likely places include pipes running against exterior
walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
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Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt,
water will begin to flow through the frozen area and will help melt more ice in the pipe.
If your plumbing does freeze, try to thaw it naturally by turning up the thermostat in your
home and opening doors and cupboards to circulate warm air. You should not apply
direct heat to your pipes, but if necessary, a hair dryer, an electric heating pad wrapped
around the pipe, wrap pipes with towels soaked in hot water, or another source of
indirect heat could be used to help thaw frozen pipes. BE SURE the pipe is not broken
and that there is no water near electrical devices.
DO NOT use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open
flame device. A blowtorch can make water in a frozen pipe boil and cause the pipe to
explode. Open flames in homes present a serious fire danger and risk of exposure to
carbon monoxide.
Apply heat to the pipe until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the
frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a
licensed or qualified plumber.
01/2015
3. Dealing with Broken Pipes
If you find a broken water pipe you need to take immediate steps to minimize water damage
to your home.
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First, make sure the main water supply coming into the home is turned off.
If the broken water pipe is still frozen and begins to thaw, wrap the broken pipe in towels
to absorb water leaking from the pipe.
Call a licensed or qualified plumber to repair the damaged pipe.
If water from the broken pipe has leaked into your home, immediately remove any water
soaked materials that you can (carpeting, clothing, furniture, etc) to minimize the risk of
mold growth.
Walls, framing, and flooring materials that are saturated will need to be assessed for
structural integrity by a qualified contractor.
Any porous, non-cleanable surfaces (drywall, insulation, carpeting, padding, etc.) that
have been saturated with water should be discarded as soon as possible and replaced
with new material AFTER the area has fully dried. This will minimize the risk of mold
growth.
01/2015