If a tap won’t run in freezing weather, a pipe has probably frozen. Keep the tap open, find the cold section, and warm it gently. Never use an open flame. If the pipe has split, shut off your main water valve and call a plumber.
Frozen pipes usually show up on the coldest mornings. Common signs:
Pipes in exterior walls, unheated rooms, garages and basements freeze first. Check those areas before anywhere else.
Leave the faucet open. As the ice melts, running water helps clear the rest and relieves pressure in the pipe.
Use a hair dryer, heating pad or space heater, starting near the tap and moving toward the frozen section. Never use an open flame or a torch.
As water starts to flow, check the pipe for drips. If it has split, shut off your main water valve and call a plumber.
A few habits lower the risk through an Ontario winter:
Keep your home heated, including when you are away for a few days.
Open sink cabinets on exterior walls so warm air can reach the pipes.
On the coldest nights, a slow drip from a tap on an exterior wall keeps water moving.
Add foam pipe insulation to pipes in unheated areas such as garages, crawl spaces and cold basements.
Shut the indoor valve that feeds each outdoor tap and drain the line before the first hard freeze.
Ontario Pacific Plumbing serves customers throughout:
If you can’t find the frozen section, it’s inside a wall, or a pipe has split, call us. Our phones are answered 24/7. See our frozen and burst pipe repair service.
