Plumbing · checked 5 Oct 2026
Pipes are frozen
Safety first
- Open the frozen pipe's faucet so pressure can escape as it thaws.
- Leaking or spraying? Close the main water shutoff if safe to reach.
- Stay out of water near outlets, appliances, or electrical equipment.
Fix it nowEight steps
- Locate your main water shutoff; if leaking, close it safely and call a plumber.A frozen pipe may leak as it thaws.
- Open the affected faucet; open both handles if it has separate hot and cold.An open faucet relieves pressure and lets meltwater escape.
- Check other faucets for reduced or missing flow.More than one pipe may be frozen.
The other five steps
- Keep home heating steady; open sink cabinets and move cleaners away from children.Room warmth can reach plumbing inside cabinets.
- Thaw only visible, safely reachable pipes; otherwise stop and call a licensed plumber.Hidden or inaccessible frozen sections need professional help.
- Wrap the frozen section with towels soaked in warm, not boiling, water.Warm towels provide gentle heat without electrical equipment.
- Refresh warm towels until normal flow returns; never use flames or a torch.Open flames can cause fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Stay nearby; inspect for leaks during thawing and after normal flow returns.Previously frozen pipes may already be broken.
When to stop
Stop and get a plumber if:
- Water leaks, sprays, or wets walls or ceilings: close the main safely; call a plumber.
- Water reaches electrical equipment: keep away and call the electric utility immediately.
- You cannot locate or safely reach the frozen section: call a licensed plumber.
- Gentle warming does not restore flow: stop and call a licensed plumber.
What it probably is
Exposed supply pipe frozeAn exterior-wall faucet stops flowing during freezing weather.You can check
Cold air reached plumbing under a sinkThe cabinet is cold; that faucet gives only a trickle.You can check
A concealed or inaccessible supply pipe frozeWater stops during a freeze, but no frozen section is safely reachable.For a pro
Time and parts
- Parts
- $0 if using existing towels
Fair price, if a pro does itUnited States
$200–2,894per job
Get it done
More than a quick fix? Vora gets quotes privately and recommends one plumber.
The plumbers we’d call in Tyler & Longview · Burst or frozen pipe: what to do
Checked against
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes
- National Weather Service: Essential Tasks After It Warms Up
- National Weather Service: Home Preparedness Tips for Prolonged Frigid Cold
- American Red Cross: Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes
Written for Vora from these public sources and checked on 5 Oct 2026. General guidance, not a substitute for a pro on site. In danger, leave and call 911.