How do I stop pipes freezing in a cold snap, and what if they burst?

Which pipes freeze first in a cold snap?

Outdoor taps and the pipes that feed them often freeze first. Pipes along outside walls and in crawlspaces, attics and garages are also at risk. Port Coquitlam lists these as the most vulnerable spots. The City of Coquitlam warns that a frozen outdoor tap could cut off your water supply.

How do I get outdoor taps ready for freezing weather?

Close the valve inside the house that supplies each outdoor tap, then open the outdoor tap so the line drains, and leave it open. The City of Coquitlam asks residents to do this for outdoor taps and irrigation systems.

1. Disconnect and drain your garden hoses first. The Province says outdoor hoses are at higher risk of freezing.
2. Once the line has drained, fit a cover over the tap. The City of Surrey notes that a tap cover helps prevent frozen lines.

How do I keep pipes inside the house from freezing?

Wrap exposed pipes in foam pipe insulation and keep the house heated.

• Keep the thermostat at 12 °C or higher, as the Province advises, and have someone check on the house while you’re away.
• Keep the garage door closed, and open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
• If a pipe has frozen before, let its tap run a trickle about the size of a pencil point, as the City of Surrey suggests. Surrey notes that in a metered building the owner pays for that water. Keep the drain clear so the sink can’t overflow.

Where is my main water shut-off?

Your main shut-off is usually where the water line comes into the house, often in a basement, crawlspace, utility room or garage. Find it now, while nothing is leaking.

Check that the handle still moves before the cold arrives, without forcing it. Most round handles close clockwise, and a lever handle is closed when it sits across the pipe. If the valve is seized or leaks, get a plumber to look at it before winter.

How can I tell if a pipe is frozen?

If a tap gives you no water, or only a trickle, in freezing weather, a pipe feeding it may be frozen. Follow that line back through the cold spots it passes. Frost on an exposed pipe can mark the frozen section.

If no tap in the house runs, the freeze may be in the water service pipe. The City of Surrey says to call a plumber if that pipe isn’t exposed.

How do I thaw a frozen pipe safely?

Close the main shut-off, open the tap on the frozen line and warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer. Never use a propane torch or any other open flame, which the City of Surrey warns can damage the pipe and may start a fire. Port Coquitlam also says not to use propane or kerosene heaters or charcoal stoves.

1. Close the main shut-off so a split pipe can’t spray when it thaws.
2. Open the tap on the frozen line to give the melting water somewhere to go.
3. If the floor or the area around the frozen pipe is wet, don’t use anything electric to warm it. Call a plumber instead.
4. Warm the pipe with a hair dryer, heating pad or warm towels, starting at the tap end. Don’t leave a dryer or heater running unattended, and keep it away from water and anything that can burn.
5. When the section has warmed, slowly open the main shut-off and check that water comes out of the tap. If nothing comes out, close the main shut-off again and keep warming. Once it runs, look along the pipe for cracks or drips.

Port Coquitlam says thawing may take one to six hours, depending on how cold it is outside and how much of the pipe has frozen. If you can’t get at the frozen section, call a plumber.

What should I do if a pipe bursts?

Close the main shut-off right away, then call a plumber.

1. Close the main shut-off, unless that means stepping into water near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel. BC Hydro warns against entering flooded basements that may have energized wires or appliances, so stay out and call your city’s water utility.
2. Open a cold tap on the lowest level so the water left in the pipes drains out.
3. Leave electrical systems and controls alone if the house is flooded. Technical Safety BC advises against touching them and says to have the wiring assessed by a licensed electrical contractor before it’s re-energized.
4. If water has reached a gas furnace or water heater, don’t restart it until a licensed gas contractor has checked it. If you smell gas, leave without using light switches or your phone, then call FortisBC’s emergency line or 911 from outside, as FortisBC advises.
5. If you can’t close your main shut-off, or the break is between the street and the house, call your city’s water utility. Port Coquitlam asks residents to call the City for any outside shut-off, and the City of Surrey asks the same when the service breaks between the street and your home. Leave the curb stop (the outside valve) to the City. Port Coquitlam says a resident or plumber who damages it while turning it is liable for the City’s repair costs.
6. Take photos before you start cleaning up, then call your home insurance provider.

Who pays to fix a frozen or burst water line?

The property owner usually pays to fix pipes on their side of the property line. The City of Coquitlam makes property owners responsible for all the water pipes starting at the service valve near the property line. The City of Surrey says repair costs for frozen pipes are the homeowner’s responsibility.

Port Coquitlam says owners are responsible for the water service pipes on their own property, including those under yards and driveways. Check your own city’s water utility page to see where your part begins.

When to call a plumber

Call a plumber if a pipe has burst or split, or if you can’t reach the frozen section. Call before the next cold snap if your main shut-off won’t close. Port Coquitlam also suggests talking to a plumber if pipes in your home are prone to freezing.

DrainX repairs burst and split water pipes. A pipe that’s spraying water is an emergency plumbing call, and one that drips after a thaw is a leak and pipe repair job. If older pipes keep springing leaks, DrainX also does full repiping.