Frozen pipes in Coeur d’Alene usually show up as no water or a trickle in cold weather. Shut off the main water supply, find the frozen section and thaw it carefully, and call a plumber if a pipe has split. Call the number to get a quote from a participating local contractor.
Danger first. For a gas smell, fire, electrical contact with water or anyone at risk, call 911 or the gas utility before anything else. Availability and response times depend on the contractor, so ask on the call.
Signs of a frozen pipe
No water, or a trickle, from one or more faucets.
Frost on exposed pipe, or a visible bulge.
Odd smells from a drain, if the line is blocked by ice.
A slow drip may be the first alert, but the source may not be obvious (Angi).
Where pipes freeze
Angi tells homeowners to check the basement, crawl space and attic, along with exterior pipes and pipes inside cabinets, such as under sinks (Angi). In Coeur d’Alene, January averages a low near 21°F (published weather averages), so unheated garages, outside walls and outdoor spigots are the usual trouble spots.
What to do
Shut off the main water supply. That limits the flooding if a pipe has split, and it is the standard first step (Angi).
Find the frozen section. Check exposed pipes, cabinets and anywhere the line passes through a cold space.
Thaw it gently. Slow, steady warmth is the idea. Do not use an open flame.
Watch for leaks as it thaws. If water appears, keep the main off and call a plumber.
Call the number if a pipe has split or the frozen section cannot be reached.
If leaving home in winter
Angi notes that when away for an extended period in cold months, draining the pipes and leaving the water valve off avoids frozen pipes and leaks while away (Angi). That is something to ask a plumber about for a second home or a long trip.
Prevention to ask about
A contractor can advise on insulating exposed lines, sealing drafts near pipes and where a leak shutoff or a freeze-proof spigot would help. Those are small jobs compared with a burst line.
Where pipes freeze first
Pipes in exterior walls, especially on the north side of the house.
Crawl spaces, unheated basements and attics.
Garages and outdoor hose bibs.
Pipes near vents, cracks and gaps in the foundation where cold air gets in.
If a pipe is frozen but not burst
Open the faucet so water can move as the ice melts, then apply gentle heat to the pipe with a hair dryer or a heating pad starting nearest the faucet. Never use an open flame. If a pipe cannot be found or the ice will not thaw, stop and call a plumber instead of forcing it.
If it has already split
Shut off the main water supply, drain the lines and call the number. A pipe that split can leak heavily once the ice thaws, so closing the main before the thaw protects the house.
Prevention before the next freeze
Disconnect hoses and close the interior shutoff to outdoor faucets.
Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves.
Keep cabinet doors open on exterior walls during a hard freeze.
Let a faucet drip when temperatures stay below freezing.
Know where the main shutoff is and make sure it turns.
No water or a trickle from a faucet, frost on exposed pipe, or a bulge in the line are the usual signs.
Where do pipes freeze in a home?
Basements, crawl spaces, attics, exterior walls, pipes inside cabinets and outdoor spigots, especially in unheated spaces.
What should be done first with a frozen pipe?
Shut off the main water supply, find the frozen section and thaw it gently. If a pipe has split, keep the water off and call a plumber.
Should the pipes be drained when leaving for the winter?
Angi says draining the pipes and leaving the water valve off avoids freezing and leaks during a long absence. Ask a plumber about the best way for the home.
