Every hard freeze in New Jersey fills plumbers' phones with the same call: no water at one faucet. That is a frozen pipe, and what you do next decides whether it becomes a burst pipe.
How to tell a pipe is frozen
A faucet gives a trickle or nothing while others work. The affected fixture is usually on an exterior wall, over a garage or crawl space, or in an unheated room.
Thawing safely
- Open the faucet. Moving water helps melt ice and relieves pressure.
- Warm the pipe with a hair dryer, heating pad or towels soaked in hot water, starting at the faucet end.
- Never use a torch, heat gun or open flame. House fires start this way every winter.
- Open cabinet doors and turn up the heat.
If you cannot reach it, or it has split
Shut off the main and call for frozen pipe repair. A pipe often splits while frozen and only leaks once it thaws, so stay nearby as it warms. If water appears, you need burst pipe repair from an emergency plumber.
Prevention
- Keep the thermostat at 55 or higher, even when away
- Let faucets on exterior walls drip on the coldest nights
- Insulate pipes in crawl spaces, garages and attics
- Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor spigots before winter
- Seal gaps where cold air reaches pipes
- Shore houses left empty for winter should be drained and winterized
Pipes that freeze every year should be rerouted or protected with heat cable. Ask about it during a plumbing inspection.
Common questions
At what temperature do pipes freeze?
Pipes in unheated spaces are at risk once outside temperatures stay around 20 degrees or below for several hours.
Do PEX pipes freeze?
Yes, but PEX can expand and is less likely to split than copper or CPVC.