Frozen Pipe Repair in Eau Claire, WI

Call now if…

• No tap in the house gives water on a cold morning
• A frozen pipe has started to drip or spray as it thaws
• You see a bulge or crack in a pipe
• The frozen pipe is inside a wall or ceiling you cannot reach
• Water is showing up on a ceiling or wall near the frozen spot

If water is escaping, close the main valve first, then call (715) 000-0000.

What is a frozen pipe?

A frozen pipe is a water pipe with ice inside it that blocks the flow and pushes on the pipe walls.

When the air around a water pipe gets cold enough, the water inside turns to ice. Ice takes up more room than water, so it pushes on the pipe from the inside. It can also block the flow, which is why a tap may stop working.

A frozen pipe is not always broken yet. But pressure builds up behind the ice and can split the pipe or push a joint apart. Often the leak does not show until the ice melts. That is why it helps to act before the pipe thaws on its own.

The pipes most at risk are the ones near cold air: in outside walls, crawl spaces, unheated garages, attics, under sinks on an outside wall, and the pipe that feeds an outdoor faucet.

How do I know if a pipe is frozen?

The most common sign is a tap that gives no water, or only a trickle, on a very cold day. A toilet that will not refill, frost on a pipe, or a pipe that looks swollen are other clues. Look for these:

• No water, or only a slow trickle, from one tap or several
• A toilet that does not refill after you flush
• Frost or ice you can see on a pipe
• A pipe that looks bulged or swollen
• Water works in one part of the house but not another

If only one tap is affected, the frozen spot is likely on the pipe that feeds that tap. If nothing in the house works, the freeze may be near where the water line comes into your home.

What should I do right now if a pipe is frozen?

Find your main water valve so you can close it fast, open the tap that stopped, and warm the room slowly. Never use an open flame, keep electric heat away from water, and call so a local plumber can thaw and check the pipe.

1. Find your main water shut-off valve. It is usually where the water line comes into the house, often in the basement near the water meter. Make sure you can turn it. If you see any leak, turn it clockwise (to the right) to close it.
2. Open the tap that stopped working. This gives melting water somewhere to go and eases pressure on the pipe.
3. Warm the room, not the pipe. Open cabinet doors under sinks so warm air can reach the pipes. Turn the heat up a little.
4. Never use an open flame. No torches, lighters, or propane heaters on or near a pipe. They can start a fire and damage the pipe.
5. Keep electric heaters and hair dryers away from water. If there is water on the floor, stay away from outlets and cords.
6. Call us so a local plumber can thaw the pipe and check it for cracks.

What happens when a plumber comes for a frozen pipe?

A local plumber finds the frozen section, thaws it slowly with controlled heat, and checks the pipe for cracks once water flows again. If a section split, they replace it. Every home is different, but a visit usually goes like this:

1. Finding the frozen section. The plumber checks which taps work and follows the pipe to find the ice.
2. Thawing it safely. They use controlled heat to melt the ice slowly, never an open flame.
3. Checking for damage. Once water flows again, they look for splits, drips, and loose joints.
4. Fixing any damage. If a section cracked, they can replace it.
5. Talking about next time. They may suggest ways to protect that pipe, like insulation or sealing drafts nearby.

Want a plumber to check a pipe that froze last night? Call (715) 000-0000.

How can I stop my pipes from freezing again?

Keep warm air around your pipes and keep cold air away from them. Steady heat, a slow drip on the coldest nights, disconnected hoses, and sealed drafts prevent most repeat freezes.

• Keep the heat on, even when you are away. Do not turn it down too far at night during a cold snap.
• On the coldest nights, let a cold tap on an outside wall drip slowly.
• Disconnect garden hoses in the fall and close the inside valve for outdoor faucets if you have one.
• Seal drafts near pipes in basements, crawl spaces, and garages.

Related pipe problems

• Burst Pipe Repair in Eau Claire

  Water spraying, pooling, or dripping through a ceiling. Shut off the main valve, then call.

• Leaking Pipe Repair in Eau Claire

  Drips under sinks, damp walls, and water stains that keep growing.

• Water Line Repair in Eau Claire

  Trouble with the main line between the street and your home, like low pressure or a soggy yard.

What else do people ask about frozen pipes?

Can a frozen pipe thaw on its own?

Yes, once the weather warms up. But if the pipe cracked while frozen, water will start leaking as it thaws. Having a plumber check it means you catch damage before it soaks a wall or floor.

Should I turn off my water if a pipe is frozen?

Not always, but you should know where the main valve is and be ready to use it. If you see a leak, or hear water running where it should not be, close the main valve right away.

Is it safe to use a hair dryer on a frozen pipe?

Only where the pipe and floor are completely dry, and only if you stay with it the whole time. Never use an open flame. If you are unsure, leave it for a plumber.

Why did only one tap freeze?

Usually the pipe to that tap runs past a cold spot, like an outside wall, a crawl space, or a garage. The rest of your pipes may be fine.

How do I know if the pipe burst?

After the water comes back, look and listen. Watch for drips, wet spots on walls or ceilings, a hissing sound, or a water meter that keeps moving when every tap is off. See our page on burst pipe repair for next steps.

How long does a frozen pipe take to thaw?

It depends on how cold it is and where the pipe runs. Warming the room slowly is safer than trying to speed things up with high heat. If water has not come back after the area has warmed, call for help.

Can I leave home while a pipe is frozen?

Try not to leave the house empty for long. If the pipe splits as it thaws, water can run until someone shuts it off. If you must go out, close the main water valve first.

Pipe repair across Eau Claire neighborhoods

• Pipe repair in Third Ward
• Pipe repair in Historic Randall Park
• Pipe repair in Eastside Hill
• Pipe repair in Putnam Heights
• Pipe repair in North Side Hill
• Pipe repair in Upper Westside

Pipe frozen in Eau Claire?

Call and we will connect you with a local plumber who can thaw it safely and check it for cracks.

Call (715) 000-0000