Frozen Pipe Repair in Yakima, WA

How to tell a pipe froze

One faucet gives a trickle while the rest work, a toilet won't refill, or you can see frost on a pipe in the crawl space. If every fixture is dry, the freeze is probably near where the line enters the house or at the meter.

Thaw slowly

Open the faucet the line feeds, then warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, a heat lamp kept well away from wood and insulation, or warm towels. Never use a torch or any open flame. Fires started inside walls and crawl spaces are a common winter loss.

When the line has split

A pipe that bursts often doesn't leak until it thaws, so watch closely as water starts moving again. If you hear running water or see a spray, close the main at once. Split copper and cracked plastic fittings need to be cut out and replaced rather than taped.

Why crawl spaces freeze

Open vents, gaps around the foundation and missing insulation let cold air reach pipes under the floor. Lines along an outside wall or above an unheated garage are at risk too. After a repair, ask the plumber which runs need insulation or heat cable to stop a repeat.

Outdoor faucets

A frost-free hose bib only protects itself if the hose is off. A hose left on traps water in the valve body, which then freezes and splits inside the wall. Disconnect hoses before the first freeze, which in Yakima usually comes around the end of September.

Getting help

Tell the plumber which fixtures are dry, where you think the frozen section is, and whether any water has escaped. Send a request and a plumber will get in touch.