How to Thaw a Frozen Pipe Safely
(And When to Call a Plumber)

North-central Oklahoma doesn't get cold often, but when a hard freeze arrives it can drop into the teens overnight, and the pipes most likely to freeze are the ones in crawl spaces, exterior walls, unheated garages and well houses. If you turn on a faucet and get only a trickle or nothing at all, a frozen pipe is the most likely cause. Acting quickly and carefully can stop a frozen pipe from turning into a burst one.

Signs a Pipe Is Frozen

• A faucet gives only a trickle, or no water at all, during freezing weather
• One fixture is affected while others work, which points to a single frozen section
• Frost or ice on a visible pipe, often in a crawl space or under a sink on an outside wall
• A pipe that looks swollen or has a hairline crack (shut off the water before thawing it)

Step-by-Step: Thawing a Frozen Pipe

1. Open the faucet the frozen pipe feeds, both hot and cold. This relieves pressure, and running water helps melt the ice once it starts to thaw.
2. Find the frozen section. Start at the faucet and work back along the pipe. Look in places exposed to cold air: crawl spaces, exterior walls, cabinets on outside walls and the garage.
3. Apply gentle heat using a hair dryer, warm towels, a portable space heater kept well away from anything flammable, or UL-listed heat tape. Work from the faucet end back toward the ice, so melting water has somewhere to go.
4. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to let warm room air reach the pipes.
5. Keep going until full pressure returns, then check the whole length of the pipe for drips or wet spots. A crack often only shows once the water is flowing again.

If the Pipe Has Already Burst

Shut off the main water valve right away, then turn off the electricity to any area where water is reaching outlets or appliances. Open faucets to drain the lines, move valuables out of the way and take photos for your insurance company. Our guide to what to do in the first 60 minutes after a burst pipe walks through each step, and we answer 24/7 emergency calls.

When to Call a Plumber Instead

• You can't find or reach the frozen section, for example inside a finished wall or ceiling
• No water is reaching the whole house, which can mean a frozen main service line or, on a well, a frozen line in the well house
• The pipe is bulging, cracked or already leaking
• You've applied gentle heat for an hour with no improvement

A plumber can locate the frozen section, thaw it safely and repair any damage in the same visit. If the same pipe freezes every winter, it's usually worth rerouting or insulating it, and our pipe repair and replacement team can do both.

Stop It Happening Next Time

Insulate exposed pipes, seal drafts around crawl-space vents, disconnect garden hoses, and on the coldest nights let a slow drip run from faucets on outside walls. Our full guide covers how to prevent frozen pipes in Oklahoma, and if a house will sit empty, see how to winterize a vacant home.

Frequently Asked Questions