First, do this when a pipe freezes
A frozen pipe is not a leak yet, but it can become one in minutes. Our line is open 24/7 for frozen and burst pipes, including nights and weekends.
- Shut off the main water valve to the house. Know where it is before winter, because you will not want to search for it.
- Open the faucet nearest the frozen section, so water and steam can leave as the ice melts.
- Look for any wet drywall, ceiling stains or dripping from the pipe. If you see water, leave the main valve closed and call.
- Turn up the heat in the room and open cabinet doors so warm air reaches the pipe.
- Call (970) 708-6013 if you cannot find the frozen section, see a crack or have no water at all.
If the pipe is already leaking, skip the thawing and call. Thawing a cracked pipe turns a small leak into a flood.
Never use a flame or a torch
Do not use a propane torch, a lighter, a camp stove or any open flame on a frozen pipe. The pipe can scorch, nearby framing and insulation can catch fire, and water inside a pipe heated too fast can turn to steam and burst it.
The safe sources of heat are slow and gentle. They take longer, but they do not put your home at risk. If a method feels like it needs a flame, it is time to call a plumber instead.
Safe ways to thaw an exposed pipe
Use these only on a pipe you can see and reach, and only when there is no sign of a leak.
Start with warm air.
Run a hair dryer on low or medium along the pipe, working from the faucet toward the frozen section.
Wrap with warm towels.
Soak towels in hot water, wring them out and wrap the pipe. Replace them as they cool.
Keep the tap open.
Water should trickle once the ice begins to melt. A full flow means the blockage is clearing.
Keep electricity away from water.
Do not use a hair dryer or heater while standing in water or with a wet cord.
Check for leaks.
When water flows, look along the pipe for drips, then open the main valve slowly and look again.
If the pipe does not thaw after a reasonable effort, or if it is inside a wall, call. A hidden frozen pipe needs a plumber, not more heat.
Where pipes freeze and what to do about it
| Location. | Why it freezes. | What helps. |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior walls. | Cold passes through thin insulation. | Open cabinet doors, keep the heat on, call if no access. |
| Garage and crawl space. | Unheated and exposed to drafts. | Seal drafts, warm gently, call if you cannot reach it. |
| Outdoor hose bibs. | Water stays in the line after use. | Disconnect hoses, shut the indoor valve, drain the line. |
| Attic and unfinished areas. | No heat and little insulation. | Add insulation before the next cold snap. |
| Slab or buried lines. | Cold ground and no access. | Call a plumber, do not try to thaw it. |
No water, or water where it should not be? Close the main valve and call the 24/7 line.
Call (970) 708-6013Winter in a town at 4,994 feet
Johnstown sits at about 4,994 feet, west of where the Big Thompson and Little Thompson rivers meet, and Colorado winters can drop cold air onto the Front Range quickly. That is why a pipe in an unheated garage, a north wall or a crawl space needs attention before a cold snap, not after.
We will not quote a frost depth for your yard, since we have not verified one. If you have a service line or outdoor line that freezes, ask the Town of Johnstown which parts are yours and which are the Town's, then call a plumber for your side.
If you must dig to reach a line, call Colorado 811 first. The call is free, and you must make it at least 2 full business days before you dig.
When to stop and call
Call the moment you hear running water you cannot explain, see a bulge or crack in the pipe, or have no water at the main. Call if the frozen pipe is in a wall, a slab, or anywhere you cannot see.
Our burst pipe repair covers frozen and split lines, and a plumber can thaw and check the pipe safely. If you suspect water is running somewhere you cannot see, leak detection finds it before the damage spreads.
Homeowners in Berthoud and Greeley call the same 24/7 line, and the steps above apply there too.
Prevent the next freeze
Keep the heat on at a steady temperature, even when you travel. Insulate exposed pipes in unheated spaces with foam sleeves, seal gaps where cold air enters, and disconnect garden hoses before the first hard freeze.
On the coldest nights, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls and let a faucet trickle on any line that has frozen before. Know where your main valve is, and make sure everyone in the house can find it.
Most homeowners policies cover sudden accidental water damage, including some burst pipe losses, but read your own policy for what yours says about freezing.
Frozen pipe questions
No. A torch can start a fire, scorch the pipe and heat the water inside until it bursts. Use warm air or warm towels, or call a plumber.
Yes. Close the main valve first, then open a tap near the frozen section. If the pipe thaws and has a crack, the water will not be flowing through it.
It depends on how long the pipe has been frozen, how much of it is solid and how reachable it is. Gentle heat is slow, and rushing is how pipes burst.
Check the pipes on exterior walls, in the garage and in the crawl space first, then call. A plumber can locate it and thaw it without opening walls where possible.
Many policies cover sudden accidental water damage, but conditions vary. Read your own policy and call your insurer, and take photos before you clean up.
If the repair involves digging, yes. Colorado 811 is free and must be called at least 2 full business days before you dig. Ask the Town about which part of the line is yours.
Yes. The line at (970) 708-6013 is answered 24/7, and frozen and burst pipes are the calls it is for. Shut off the main valve and describe what you see.