Frozen Pipe Repair
Quick answer
A faucet that gives a trickle or nothing on a freezing morning has a frozen pipe, usually in an outside wall, a crawl space or an unheated garage. Open the faucet and warm the pipe gently; never use an open flame. ConsumerAffairs puts a plumber's thaw at about $100, or $250–$500 if the pipe has split. To reach a plumber, call (888) 217-6781.
Follow the short menu, then your 5-digit ZIP. The line goes quiet for a few seconds while it connects; stay on. If it does not connect, call once more: companies taking calls change minute to minute.
Signs you need a plumber
- No water, or a trickle, from one or more faucets in freezing weather
- Frost on an exposed pipe
- A toilet that will not refill
- A bulge or crack in the pipe
- Water appearing on a ceiling or wall once the pipe thaws
A frozen pipe often splits without leaking until it thaws. Know where your main shutoff is before you start warming it, and close the main the moment you see water.
What to check before you call
- Open the faucet the pipe feeds so melting water and pressure have somewhere to go
- Warm the pipe from the faucet end back with a hair dryer, a heating pad or warm towels
- Open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls to let house heat in
- Never use a torch, a propane heater or an open flame on a pipe
- Check every faucet: if one pipe froze, others in the same wall may have too
What the plumber does
- 1
Finds the frozen section
Traces the run from the dead faucet to the cold spot in the wall, crawl space or attic.
- 2
Thaws it safely
Uses heat tape, a pipe thawing machine or warm air, then checks the pipe for splits under pressure.
- 3
Repairs and protects
Replaces any split section and insulates, reroutes or adds heat cable to the run so it does not freeze again.
Frozen pipe repair cost
| Job | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Thaw an intact pipe | about $100 | ConsumerAffairs |
| Thaw and repair a split or leaking pipe | $250–$500 | ConsumerAffairs |
| Burst pipe repair, typical span | $150–$5,000 (about $500 average) | ConsumerAffairs |
Pipes inside finished walls or under a slab cost more to reach. Water damage from a burst pipe is a separate cost from the plumbing repair. Sources: ConsumerAffairs frozen pipe repair cost guide.
Ready to book a plumber?
One call reaches a plumbing company taking calls in your ZIP.
Follow the short menu, then your 5-digit ZIP. The line goes quiet for a few seconds while it connects; stay on. If it does not connect, call once more: companies taking calls change minute to minute.
Step-by-step guides
Frozen Pipes: Prevention, Warning Signs & Emergency Response
Burst frozen pipes are the most common individual water damage insurance claim in the US. A single quarter-inch crack releases up to 250 gallons per hour — know the warning signs and what to do before it happens.
Why Pipes Burst When They Freeze (It's Not Where You Think) — and Why the Flood Comes at Thaw
Ice expands ~9% — but that's not what splits the pipe. The burst comes from water pressure trapped between the ice plug and a closed faucet, and the flood arrives at thaw. Here's the mechanism and the fix.
How to Prevent Burst Pipes in Winter: The Complete Homeowner Checklist
Pipes freeze and burst when the interior temperature drops below 32F in uninsulated wall cavities and unheated spaces -- but the water damage happens when the pipe THAWS. Here is the complete prevention checklist organized by urgency.
Frozen pipe repair: common questions
Will a frozen pipe thaw on its own?
Often, once the weather warms, but you will not know whether it split until water starts coming out. Thawing it yourself with the faucet open, or having a plumber do it, lets you catch a split while the main can still be closed.
Should I leave faucets dripping in freezing weather?
A slow drip on faucets fed by outside-wall pipes keeps water moving and relieves pressure, which helps prevent a split.
Does insurance cover frozen pipes?
Homeowners policies usually cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe, but insurers can deny claims where the home was left unheated. The pipe repair itself is often treated differently from the water damage.
Other plumbing services
(888) 217-6781 is the plumbing line. HearthDry is a referral service; the company you reach is independent.