If you turn on a faucet during a cold snap and get little to no water flow, you likely have a frozen pipe. The right response is to act quickly but carefully — thawing a frozen pipe the wrong way can cause it to burst and cause significant water damage. In most cases, you can thaw a frozen pipe yourself if you can locate it and access it safely. But if the pipe has already burst, if it’s inside a wall, or if you can’t locate the freeze point, call a licensed plumber before the situation gets worse.

How to Identify a Frozen Pipe

The clearest sign of a frozen pipe is little or no water flow from a specific faucet during or after a period of very cold weather. In Denver, pipes most commonly freeze after overnight temperatures drop well below zero, particularly in homes with pipes in uninsulated exterior walls, crawl spaces, garages, or unconditioned attic spaces. If only one fixture is affected, the freeze is likely in a specific branch line. If water flow is restricted throughout the house, the main supply line may be affected — which is more serious and usually requires a plumber.

What to Do Immediately

Before you attempt to thaw a frozen pipe, take these steps:

  • Open the faucet served by the frozen pipe. As the pipe thaws, water and steam need somewhere to go. Keeping the faucet open relieves pressure and lets you see when flow is restored.
  • Locate your main water shutoff valve and make sure you can reach it quickly. If a pipe bursts during thawing, you need to shut off water immediately.
  • Inspect visible pipes for cracks or bulging. Ice expands as it freezes, and a pipe that was already compromised may have a split that you’ll only see once the ice melts. If you see a crack or split, shut off the main and call Done.

Safe Ways to Thaw a Frozen Pipe

If the frozen section is accessible — under a sink, along a basement wall, in a crawl space — you can apply gentle heat to thaw it. Safe methods include a hair dryer on a low setting, an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, or a portable electric space heater pointed at the frozen section. Work from the faucet end of the pipe toward the frozen section so that melting water and steam can escape as you go. Never use an open flame — a propane torch, candles, or any combustion heat source near a pipe is a fire hazard.

Continue applying heat until full water pressure is restored. If pressure doesn’t return after 20–30 minutes of gentle heat application, or if you can’t find or access the frozen section, call a plumber. A professional can use equipment designed for thawing pipes safely, including electric pipe thawers and thermal imaging to locate the freeze point inside a wall without tearing it open.

If a Pipe Bursts

If a pipe bursts — a loud pop, sudden water flow, water coming through a ceiling or wall — shut off the main water supply immediately and call Done’s emergency plumbing line. Don’t use electrical devices or outlets near standing water. Move valuables and electronics out of the affected area if it’s safe to do so, and document the damage with photos for your insurance claim. A burst pipe repair is a job for a licensed plumber — and the sooner it’s addressed, the less water damage accumulates.

Preventing Frozen Pipes in the Future

Colorado’s Front Range cold snaps are a predictable hazard, and a few preventive steps can significantly reduce your risk:

  • Insulate pipes in unheated spaces — crawl spaces, garages, exterior walls, and unconditioned attics
  • Let faucets drip slowly on nights when temperatures drop below 20°F, especially on exterior walls
  • Keep cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks open during extreme cold to allow heated air to reach supply lines
  • Know where your main shutoff valve is before you need it
  • Replace standard outdoor hose bibbs with frost-free sillcocks

For pipe repairs, insulation upgrades, or a plumbing inspection before winter, visit our pipes and lines page or contact Done to schedule service.