The short answer
Prepare exposed plumbing before a hard freeze; if a pipe may be frozen, use gentle heat only when the area is dry and safe.
Do not wait for a burst to learn where the main water shutoff is. If a faucet slows to a trickle, suspect a frozen pipe; keep the faucet open and use only gentle, non-flame heat on an accessible pipe if the area is dry and safe. If water is escaping, electricity may be involved, you smell gas, a ceiling or wall is damaged, or you cannot safely reach the pipe, stop and get appropriate urgent help.
Safety comes first
Stop here: leave the area and seek urgent help when
- Water is flowing from a burst pipe, ceiling, wall, or fixture and you cannot safely stop it at a known, accessible shutoff. If you can safely use the home’s known main water shutoff, do so; otherwise call the water utility or a qualified plumber for urgent assistance.
- Water is near outlets, panels, cords, appliances, or other electrical equipment. Do not touch switches, appliances, or electrical equipment while standing in water.
- You smell gas, hear a hissing sound, see a damaged gas line, or suspect a gas leak. Leave immediately, avoid flames and switches, and contact the gas utility, fire department, or local emergency authority from a safe location.
- A ceiling, floor, or wall is sagging, cracked, or visibly damaged, or you are not confident it is safe to enter.
- Anyone has an injury, signs of cold illness, or immediate physical danger. Use local emergency services.
Safety limit: This guide does not tell a homeowner how to enter water, operate an unfamiliar shutoff or electrical system, or use an open flame to thaw a pipe. Those actions depend on the site, equipment condition, and local conditions.
Decision support
A practical prevention and first-response framework
Use these factors to decide what to do next, what to document, and what to ask—not to guess at a remote diagnosis.
- 01
Decide whether this is prevention, a freeze, or a leak
Before cold weather, protect vulnerable plumbing while it still flows normally. A faucet that now produces only a trickle or no water can indicate a freeze. Water escaping from plumbing or a building surface is a water-control and safety problem first—not a thawing project.
- 02
Protect plumbing most exposed to cold
Remove, drain, and store outdoor hoses. If the home has an indoor valve serving an outdoor hose connection, close it and open the outside connection so remaining water can drain. Keep garage doors closed when water lines run through the garage; open kitchen or bathroom cabinet doors only when it is safe to keep cleaners away from children and pets. Keep the thermostat at a consistent temperature; if leaving the home, the American Red Cross advises leaving heat on no lower than 55°F.
- 03
Use only a safe first response for an accessible frozen pipe
Keep the affected faucet open. If the frozen section is accessible, dry, and free of electrical risk, use gentle heat from an electric heating pad, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater kept away from flammable materials, or towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, propane or kerosene heater, charcoal stove, or any open flame device.
- 04
Record escaped water after safety is addressed
From a safe, dry location, photograph the visible source, water path, affected materials, and room condition before moving items when practical. Keep a simple timeline of when the problem was first noticed, changes observed, who was called, and what was done.
- 05
Separate urgent response from the ordinary repair decision
After flow is controlled and the area is safe, ask a qualified plumber to identify the affected section and explain the proposed scope in writing. If electrical heat tape or wiring is involved, use qualified electrical help or the equipment manufacturer’s service guidance rather than treating it as a plumbing-only repair.
Homeowner tool
A homeowner-safe cold-weather record
Bring these observations to a qualified professional after the home is safe and water is controlled.
What changed
- Fixtures that lost flow, changed flow, or leaked: __________
- When the change started and the weather or power conditions then: __________
- Whether the home was occupied, heated, or without power: __________
What you can safely document
- Photos from safe locations and any visible water path or material damage: __________
- Accessible water shutoffs known, without guessing what a valve controls: __________
- Any visible heat-tape or cable damage noted with power disconnected: __________
Bring better questions
Questions for a qualified professional
Use these questions to understand observations, scope, uncertainty, and what still needs a separate evaluation.
- 01Which section of plumbing was affected, and what observations support that conclusion?
- 02What work is necessary now, and what prevention work is optional?
- 03If heat tape or wiring is involved, which part needs a separate electrical assessment?
- 04Which permits or inspections may apply, and what is excluded from the scope?
- 05How will the completed work be checked, and what records should I keep?
Scope limit
What this guide cannot do
This guide cannot identify the exact frozen section, tell you how to operate an unfamiliar water or electrical system, confirm a pipe is undamaged after thawing, determine insurance coverage, or replace an on-site assessment by a qualified professional.
Related guidance
Continue with the question that fits the situation.
Sources
Sources last checked September 11, 2026
These sources support the guide's decision factors and safety limits. They do not provide a remote diagnosis for an individual home.
Ready.gov
Winter WeatherWinter-weather preparedness context and pipe-freeze prevention planning.
American Red Cross
Preventing & Thawing Frozen PipesPrevention steps, the 55°F away-from-home benchmark, safe thawing methods, and the open-flame prohibition.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Check Heat Tapes, Cables For Possible Fire HazardsHeat-tape inspection and manufacturer-instruction safety limits.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Guidelines for Cleaning Safely After a DisasterElectrical safety around water.