Frozen Pipe Prevention and Repair Services

• Shut off the water main leading into the structure to reduce pressure on frozen pipes and minimize flooding if the pipes burst.
  
  
• Use a hair dryer to thaw the ice blockage if the frozen pipe is exposed and visible. (Do not use an open flame to thaw!) If frozen pipes are not visible, call in the experts at Roto-Rooter.
  
  
• If you notice slower water flow and expect frozen pipes, you should call a plumber immediately. Typically, issues like this can be resolved before any damage occurs.

If you experience frozen water pipes, contact our Roto-Rooter plumbing experts, who use professional pipe-thawing equipment. Call 1-800-768-6911 or schedule an appointment online. Roto-Rooter provides complete basement plumbing services – including water leak service and laundry room maintenance. And, our water cleanup team can also remove water and dry your home professionally in the event of a burst or leaking pipe.

*All services not available from all locations.

• Open cabinet doors under sinks and in storage areas to allow heat from the room to circulate around uninsulated pipes. Allow a trickle of hot and cold water to drip overnight; however, be careful not to run the water into a drain line that is exposed to the extreme cold because that line might freeze.
  
  
• Insulate all pipes in unheated areas or against uninsulated outside walls, in garages and in crawl spaces. Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around pipes that are exposed and prone to freezing.
  
  
• Make sure the heat is turned on in the building and is set no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
  
• Check out our frozen pipe graphic

Keep exposed water supply pipes warm by wrapping them with foam pipe insulation sleeves. Use temperature-controlled heat tape on the most vulnerable pipes. Disconnect outside water hoses and cover outdoor faucets with foam insulation kits to prevent them from freezing and damaging indoor water supply pipes. Open cabinet doors beneath sinks to allow warm air to circulate around pipes. Allow water to trickle from faucets when temperatures drop well below freezing. Keep furnace on and set no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, but preferably warmer.

If a water pipe has burst, turn off the main water supply valve and open connecting faucets to relieve pressure and minimize water damage. Call a plumber to repair the damaged pipes. Call a professional water damage cleanup company if water has soaked carpets, flooring and walls.

If a water pipe has frozen but hasn’t burst, use a hair dryer to blow warm air onto the pipe. Move it back and forth to warm as much of the pipe as you can reach. Point a space heater at the pipe or the wall containing the frozen pipe. Never use an open flame to heat a pipe! If necessary, call a plumber to thaw your pipe with professional pipe thawing equipment.

The most common way to know your pipes have frozen is if you turn on a faucet and no water comes out, or water comes out slowly or in a halting manner. Sometimes frozen pipes will exhibit a frosty appearance, but most often they look the same as an unfrozen pipe.