Burst Pipe Repair
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Homeowner guide
Frozen Pipes in Commerce City, CO: How to Thaw and Prevent Them
If water slows to a trickle on a cold morning, a pipe is probably freezing. Thaw it slowly, shut off the main if you see a split, and call for help if you cannot reach the frozen section.
By the Mile High Express Plumbing team · published
Signs that a pipe is frozen
The first sign is usually a faucet that runs weak or not at all while the other taps work. Frost on an exposed pipe, a bulging section and a pipe that is cold to the touch point to the same cause. Sometimes a faint gurgle or a hiss comes from the wall as trapped water pushes against ice.
Check the hot and cold sides. If only the cold side is dead, a supply line is frozen. If both are dead at one fixture, the freeze is probably in a shared branch. If every fixture in the house is dry, the freeze may be at the meter or the service line, and the water district may need to be involved.
When the first freeze arrives
Denver's average first freeze is October 7, according to National Weather Service records reported by 9News. That is earlier than many people expect, and a hard cold snap can follow within weeks. Pipes that run through garages, crawl spaces, exterior walls and unheated basement corners are the usual victims.
Houses built with a water line close to an outside wall or a vented eave are at higher risk. A hose left on an outdoor spigot is another common cause, because water trapped in the spigot freezes and pushes back into the pipe inside the wall.
How to thaw a pipe safely
Begin by opening the faucet so meltwater and steam can escape. Warm the pipe gradually, starting near the faucet and moving back toward the frozen section. A hair dryer, a heating pad around the pipe or towels soaked in warm water all work. Keep the heat moving and stay with it.
Do not use an open flame, a propane torch or a charcoal heater. Flames can ignite framing and insulation, and rapid heating can crack a pipe or damage a soldered joint. If you cannot reach the frozen section, or it is inside a wall, stop and call a plumber.
Frozen pipe: symptom and response
Match what you notice to the first move.
| Symptom | Probable meaning | First move |
|---|---|---|
| One tap runs weak or dry | A branch line has frozen | Open the tap and warm the pipe gradually |
| Nothing flows anywhere | The freeze is at the meter or service line | Check the main valve, then phone |
| Frost coats a pipe, or it bulges | Ice is building inside | Use a hair dryer, never a flame |
| A stain or puddle spreads | The pipe has already split | Close the main valve and phone |
If the pipe has already split
Ice does not usually split a pipe at the spot where it forms. Pressure builds between the ice and a closed faucet, and the pipe fails nearby. The damage often stays hidden until the ice melts and water starts flowing.
If water appears or a stain is spreading, shut the main water valve immediately. Open a low tap to empty the lines, and keep power away from anything sitting in water. A burst pipe repair visit replaces the damaged section, and a water damage restoration crew can dry the space if the water ran for a while.
How to prevent frozen pipes
Before the first hard freeze, disconnect and drain garden hoses, close any indoor shutoff to an outdoor spigot and open the outdoor tap to let it drain. Insulate exposed pipes in the garage, crawl space and exterior walls with foam sleeves. Seal gaps where cables or pipes pass through the wall, because small drafts can chill a pipe.
On the coldest nights, leave cabinet doors open beneath sinks on outside walls so warm room air reaches the pipes. Let a tap trickle if the line is vulnerable. If you travel, leave the heat on and set it no lower than about 55 degrees.
Pipes that keep freezing
If the same pipe freezes every winter, the cause is the routing or the insulation. A plumber can reroute the line, add heat tape rated for the pipe or reinsulate. A water line repair may be the right fix when a buried or exterior supply line sits too shallow.
Do not ignore a repeat freeze. Each cycle weakens the pipe, and a pipe that has frozen before is more likely to split the next time.
Vacation and vacant home precautions
Leaving a house vacant in winter? Keep the heat at about 55 degrees, and for a trip of weeks shut off the main and drain the lines. Ask a neighbor to look in, or install a leak sensor that texts your phone.
A vacant rental or a property under renovation is at higher risk, because no one notices a drip. Check the heat and the doors before every cold snap.
Heat tape and insulation
Electric heat cable hugs a pipe and warms it when temperatures fall. Choose cable rated for your pipe material, follow the directions and retire any that looks frayed or old. Never overlap it on itself or use a damaged cord.
Foam sleeves are cheap and quick to install on straight runs. Fit them snugly at the elbows and seal the seams with tape. A pipe that is both insulated and kept above freezing is far less likely to split.
Common questions
Frozen pipe questions
If the pipe is frozen but not leaking, thaw it with the faucet open. If you see a split or water, close the main valve right away.
No. Many freeze and thaw without breaking. The risk rises when ice builds up and pressure has nowhere to go.
Yes, if you keep it moving and stay away from standing water. Do not use open flames.
Pipes in exposed areas can freeze after hours below 20 degrees. Wind and drafts make it worse.
Services that help
Water Damage Restoration
Extract water, dry the structure and rebuild after a leak, frozen pipe or basement flood.
Water Line Repair & Replacement
Fix or replace the buried supply pipe running from the meter to your home.
Keep reading
Outdoor spigot leaking
A dripping hose bib wastes water, and a frozen one can split the pipe inside the wall. Here is how to fix and winterize it.
Turn off the main water valve
Knowing where your main valve is and whether it works can save thousands of dollars in a flood.
Basement sewer backup: what to do
Sewage in a basement drain or floor is a health hazard. Here is how to tell where the blockage is and what to do first.
Pipe frozen or already split?
If water is loose, shut the main valve first, then phone in. We will line up a local contractor for you.