Frozen Pipes: A Winter Playbook for Plumbers

The first real cold snap of the year brings a wave of calls all at once. Frozen lines, burst pipes, and flooded basements. These are urgent, high-value jobs, and the homeowner will call plumbers one after another until someone answers.

The cost to homeowners is big. The Insurance Information Institute says that from 2019 to 2023, about 1 in 67 insured homes filed a claim for water damage or freezing each year, with an average claim of about $15,400.

Research by the Building Research Council at the University of Illinois found that uninsulated pipes in an unheated attic began to freeze when the outdoor temperature dropped to 20°F (about -7°C) or below. A survey of plumbers in southern US states agreed: burst pipes started showing up when temperatures fell into the teens.

But pipes can freeze at warmer temperatures too, especially when cold wind blows through cracks in outside walls or around uninsulated pipes. Homes in places that rarely freeze are often at higher risk, because their pipes are not built for it.

Share these simple tips by text, email, or social media before cold weather hits:

• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor taps from the inside if possible
• Insulate pipes in garages, crawl spaces, and attics
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm air can reach the pipes
• Let a cold tap drip on very cold nights
• Keep the heat on (at least 55°F / 13°C) when away from home
• Know where the main water shut-off valve is

• If water is spraying or leaking: “Turn off your main water valve right now. Stay away from any water near outlets or your electrical panel.” This is an emergency booking.
• If a pipe is frozen but not leaking: “Keep the tap open. You can gently warm the pipe with a hair dryer or warm towels. Never use an open flame.” Book as urgent, because a frozen pipe can burst as it thaws.
• If no water comes out at all: Several pipes may be frozen. Ask where the pipes run and book quickly.

• Stock up on common fittings, pipe, and heat tape before demand spikes.
• Plan an on-call rotation for cold snaps, including weekends.
• Watch the forecast and warn customers a few days before a freeze.
• Offer winterizing visits in the fall for cottages, vacant homes, and older houses.
• Make sure every call gets answered. During a cold snap, calls come faster than any one person can handle.

Mercvox can answer many calls at the same time, so a cold-snap surge never hits a busy signal or voicemail. It flags burst pipes and flooding as emergencies and alerts you right away, and books frozen-but-not-leaking calls and winterizing visits into your calendar.

• Insurance Information Institute — Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and renters insurance
• American Red Cross — Frozen pipes
• University of Illinois Building Research Council — research on pipe freezing temperatures