What frozen pipe thawing involves
First we find the frozen section. That is usually the coldest stretch: a pipe along an outside wall, under a kitchen sink along an outside wall, through a cold garage or crawlspace, or the line feeding an outdoor tap. Then we warm it gently.
- Open the faucet the pipe feeds so melting water has somewhere to go.
- Apply heat with warm air or heat tape, starting near the tap and working back.
- Watch and listen for leaks as flow returns.
- Check the full run, including inside walls if we can reach it.
- Shut the main straight away if a split shows up.
We keep open flames away from pipes. Torches start fires inside walls and can overheat copper or melt plastic.
Why North York houses need it
Toronto gets cold snaps every winter where temperatures drop well below minus fifteen, often with wind. Bungalows with kitchens on the back wall, side-splits with plumbing over the garage, and additions built on crawlspaces are frequent trouble spots. Some homes had pipes moved into exterior walls during renovations with too little insulation behind them.
The water service itself can freeze where it enters the house if the basement wall there is cold and drafty. A frozen service means no water anywhere.
Plumber's tip: Where a pipe has already split, close the main water valve first and call second. Know where it is before winter: see finding your main shut-off.
How we write up the job
The order notes the frozen section, its location, the pipe material and whether we found damage. Then comes the useful part: why it froze. Missing insulation, a gap where cold air gets in, or a line that should be rerouted to an inside wall. You get the options and decide what to do.
Signs you should call
- One tap gives a dribble or nothing at all on a very cold morning.
- Frost on an exposed pipe.
- A toilet that does not refill.
- A bulge or crack in a pipe you can see.
If water is already spraying, it is a burst pipe repair. For next year, read preventing frozen pipes.
Costs and what affects them
Reach is the biggest factor. A pipe in an exposed basement ceiling goes fast. One buried in a finished wall may need an access hole, and a frozen service entry takes longer still. Repairs to any split section are priced separately once we see the damage.
Prevention work is usually modest by comparison. Sealing a rim joist gap, adding foam pipe sleeves, or fitting a frost-free hose bib can stop a line from freezing again. Rerouting a pipe from an outside wall to an inside one costs more, but on a run that freezes every winter, it is often the job that ends the calls for good. We list each option with what it involves so you can weigh it.
Job at a glance
| Category | Pipes |
|---|---|
| Tools | Heat gun, pipe heat tape, foam insulation |
| Final test | Steady flow and no drips along the thawed run |
Tell-tale signs
- No water at one tap on a frigid morning
- Frost on a pipe near an outside wall
- Hose bib line in an unheated garage
Steps on the job
- Open the dead tap so melt has somewhere to go
- Apply heat starting at the open tap and work back to the ice
- Inspect for splits once flow returns
- Insulate or reroute the cold run
Your questions on this one
Is it worth letting a tap drip during a deep freeze?
On lines that have frozen before, a slow drip from the tap they feed can help, along with opening the cabinet doors under the sink.
Can I use a hair dryer?
Yes, carefully, with the tap open and away from standing water. Never use a torch or open flame.