Plumbing · triage
Frozen pipes: no water, or only a trickle
The short answer
Open the faucet, then warm the pipe gently from the faucet side back with a hair dryer, heating pad or warm towels. Never use an open flame. If you see a split or water spraying, close the main shutoff.
No open flameTorches, propane heaters and charcoal can start fires and produce carbon monoxide. Keep space heaters away from anything that can burn.
Know your shutoffs
Every outcome on this card
Emergency nowThe pipe has split
Close the main water shutoff now.
- Close the main water shutoff
- Keep away from water near electrics See the water-near-electrics card.
- Call a plumber A split pipe often leaks more as it thaws.
TodayThaw it gently
Today, before it splits.
- Open the faucet it feeds Running water helps melt the ice and relieves pressure.
- Warm the pipe from the faucet end back Hair dryer, heating pad or towels soaked in hot water. Never an open flame.
- Keep warming until full pressure returns; check other taps If more than one tap is out, the freeze may be near where the line enters.
Pipes on outside walls, in crawlspaces, attics and garages freeze first.
TodayThe freeze is out of reach
Call a plumber today.
- Raise the heat and open cabinet doors on outside walls
- Leave the faucet open
- Know where your main shutoff is If the pipe splits as it thaws, close it.
Related
Written from
Original casaq guidance, updated 2026-10-05. General guidance, not a diagnosis; licensed-pro review pending. Severity levels: Emergency now / Today / This week / This month / Watch. Send a correction.
Step 1