Water lines & fixtures
If a pipe has burst, shut off your main water valve right away, switch off the water heater, and call a plumber. If a pipe is frozen but not leaking, open the faucet it feeds and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, never an open flame. Frozen pipes often split without showing it, and the leak starts as the ice thaws, so watch the line closely and be ready to shut off the main.
Signs a pipe has frozen or burst
- No water, or only a trickle, from one faucet on a freezing morning
- Frost on an exposed pipe, or a pipe that looks bulged
- Water stains spreading on a ceiling or wall near an outside wall
- The sound of running water when everything is off
- Puddles appearing as temperatures rise after a cold snap
- A sudden drop in water pressure across the house
What to do right now
- Shut off the main water valve. In most Baltimore rowhomes it's on the front basement wall where the line comes in from the street. In newer homes, look near the water heater or in a utility closet.
- Switch off the water heater: power off for an electric unit, or set a gas unit to "pilot".
- Open the faucets to drain the remaining water and relieve pressure.
- Keep electricity away from water. If water is near outlets, cords or the panel, stay out of it.
- Photograph the damage for your insurer before cleanup starts.
- Call a plumber to repair the pipe and check the rest of the line before the water goes back on.
Thawing a frozen pipe safely
Open the faucet the pipe feeds, so melting water has somewhere to go. Warm the pipe from the faucet end back toward the frozen section with a hair dryer, a heating pad or a space heater kept at a safe distance. Never use a torch, open flame or charcoal heater. If you can't reach the frozen section, it's inside a wall, or water doesn't return, call a plumber rather than opening walls.
Where pipes freeze in Baltimore homes
- Kitchens and bathrooms in rowhome rear additions, often along poorly insulated exterior walls
- Crawlspaces under converted cottages in Pasadena, Middle River and other waterfront areas
- Pipes near basement windows, vents and doors, where cold air leaks in
- Outdoor hose bibs that weren't shut off and drained
- Garages and unheated porches
- Vacant or between-tenant homes where the heat was turned down too far
Searches for frozen pipes in Baltimore jump every January and February, so the busiest repair weeks follow the first hard freezes.
Repairing or replacing a damaged pipe
A single split section is usually cut out and replaced with new copper or PEX. If the same pipe freezes every winter, ask the plumber about rerouting it inside the heated part of the house, insulating it, or adding a listed heat cable. Old galvanized pipe that splits often has more corrosion nearby, so it may be time to replace that run or repipe. Once the repair is done, a plumber can check the line for other leaks before the water goes back on; hidden leaks are found with leak detection.
How to keep pipes from freezing
- Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night during a cold snap
- Open sink cabinet doors on outside walls so warm air reaches the pipes
- Let a faucet on an outside wall drip on the coldest nights
- Disconnect garden hoses, then shut off and drain outdoor faucets before the first freeze
- Insulate exposed pipes in basements, crawlspaces and garages
- Never turn the heat off in an empty house or rental; set it low instead
How to get frozen and burst pipe repair in Baltimore
- Call 443-863-5471. Tell us what's happening and where you are. Calls are answered 24/7.
- We connect you. You're put through to a licensed, independent local plumber who handles this kind of job in your area.
- Get a clear quote. The plumber explains the problem and the price before any work starts.
- You decide. Approve the work, and the plumber completes it with any permit your city or county requires.
Plumbers in Baltimore Today is a free referral service; we don't perform plumbing work ourselves. How it works.
Frequently asked questions
Will a frozen pipe always burst?
No. Many frozen pipes thaw without damage, but ice can split a pipe or loosen a fitting, and the leak often appears only as it thaws. Watch the line as water returns and be ready to shut off the main.
Should I let my faucets drip in freezing weather?
On the coldest nights, a slow drip from faucets on outside walls keeps water moving and relieves pressure in the line, which helps prevent bursts.
Does homeowners insurance cover burst pipes?
Many policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe but may exclude damage from neglect, such as leaving a vacant home unheated. Check your policy, stop the water quickly and photograph the damage before cleanup.
How much does burst pipe repair cost?
It depends on where the pipe is, the pipe material, how much wall or ceiling must be opened, and whether it's an after-hours call. Ask for the call-out fee and repair price before work starts. See the Baltimore plumber cost guide.