Pipe frozen right now? Do this first
- Close the main shutoff, even if the pipe looks intact. A thawing split pipe can release a lot of water fast.
- Open the faucet on the frozen line so melting water and pressure have somewhere to go.
- Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer on low, a heating pad or towels soaked in warm water. Start near the faucet and work toward the frozen section. Keep electrical items away from standing water.
- Never use a torch, a propane heater, a lighter or any open flame. It can ignite framing and insulation, and overheated joints can fail.
- If you see a split, a bulge or water, leave the water off and call.
What decides the price of a frozen pipe repair
Three things set the bill: whether the pipe actually split, how many places it split, and how hard those places are to reach. Water cleanup is usually separate from the plumbing repair and is priced apart from it.
A pipe that froze but did not break may need nothing more than a careful thaw and a pressure check. A pipe that split in a wall needs cutting, repair and patching. Which one you have only shows once the ice melts and the pressure comes back.
Where pipes freeze first
| Where | Why it freezes | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor hose bibs and their supply lines | Open air reaches any water left inside | Disconnect hoses in fall and shut off and drain the line if there is an interior valve |
| Pipes in exterior walls | Little insulation between the pipe and the cold siding, most often on north walls | Open cabinet doors on cold nights so room air reaches the wall |
| Garage and other unheated spaces | No heat at all | Insulate the lines and keep the garage door closed |
| Basement rim joist and crawl spaces | Cold air leaks in around the foundation | Seal gaps and insulate pipes that run along the rim |
| Pipes under sinks on outside walls | The cabinet traps cold air against the pipe | Leave doors open and let a trickle run in a hard freeze |
| Lines under the floor of a mobile or manufactured home | The pipes run below the floor, close to outside air | Check skirting and insulation before the cold sets in |
Cost drivers, in the order they matter
Ask for the clear price before work starts, and ask what it covers. A good quote says whether it includes one break or all of them, and whether opening and closing walls is part of it.
On insurance: a sudden burst pipe and the water damage it causes is the usual covered event on a homeowner policy, while gradual leaks and maintenance generally are not. Whether yours covers the pipe repair, the cleanup or both is in your policy, so check it or ask your agent before you sign anything.
A split under open basement joists is quick work. One behind a finished wall, ceiling or tub surround means cutting and later patching, and that can outweigh the repair itself.
Copper, PEX, CPVC and older metal pipe each fail and repair differently. Some tolerate a freeze better than others, but fittings can still crack.
One split is one repair. A pipe that froze along a long run often has several breaks, and some only show after the thaw when pressure returns.
After a repair the line is pressure tested. A second break found during testing adds to the scope, which is why a quote should say how it handles that.
Drying, removing wet drywall and insulation, and preventing mold are separate work, often done by a restoration company, and are priced apart from the plumbing.
Allendale, MI: how cold it really gets
The National Weather Service recorded minus 19 degrees F at a station about a mile south-southwest of Allendale on 15 January 2024, and minus 13 degrees F at Allendale on 24 January 2026. These are temperature readings, not reports of pipe damage. They do show that plumbing in an exterior wall or an unheated garage can sit in serious cold, so on nights like those open the cabinet doors and let a faucet trickle.
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for the Grand Rapids airport, about 16 miles east and not Allendale, count about 133 days a year at or below 32 F and 4.4 days at or below 0 F. Michigan's residential code lists a 42 inch frost line for footings. That is a footing figure and not a rule for water service burial depth, so ask the township utility or a plumber about your own service line.
Source: National Weather Service Grand Rapids storm summaries, NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals and the Michigan Residential Code frost line table.
Signs a pipe has split, not just frozen
A frozen pipe blocks water. A split pipe leaks it, often only after the ice melts. Watch for these once the water is back on.
A bulge or frost on the pipe
Swelling or a crack in the pipe wall means the ice has already done damage. Do not thaw further until the main is closed.
A wet spot or stain
A damp patch on a ceiling, wall or floor under the frozen run is the quickest giveaway after thaw.
Running water you cannot find
If you hear water in a wall or see the water meter moving with every fixture off, a break is leaking somewhere you cannot see.
Who to call, and for what
A confirmed split is a burst pipe repair job. If the main is closed and you cannot find the source, leak detection traces a hidden break without opening walls at random.
We take frozen pipe calls in nearby towns too, including Coopersville, about 8 miles away, and Marne, about 9 miles away.