Frozen pipes and water lines in Omaha

If you think a pipe is frozen

Turn on the faucet it feeds. A trickle or nothing at all, on a cold day, usually means ice in the line. Leave the faucet open so water can move once it starts to thaw, and find your main shutoff in case the pipe has split. See the plumbing emergency guide for where the main shutoff usually is.

Gentle, even warmth is the safe way to thaw a pipe: a space heater at a safe distance, a hair dryer, or warm towels, working from the faucet back toward the frozen spot. Never use an open flame or a torch on a pipe.

When to call a plumber

Call when you cannot reach the frozen section, when more than one fixture has stopped, when the main water line is frozen, or when you see a bulge, a crack or water once it thaws. A licensed plumber can thaw the line safely, find the split and repair or replace that section of pipe.

Frozen water lines

The water line from the street can freeze too, most often where it enters the house or runs through an unheated crawl space or garage. If there is no water anywhere in the house on a very cold morning, call the shop. See pipe repair and replacement for replacing a line that froze.

Keeping pipes from freezing

Pipes on outside walls, in crawl spaces, garages and attics freeze first. Insulating them, sealing drafts, disconnecting garden hoses, shutting off and draining outdoor faucets, and keeping the heat on when you travel all help. If one pipe freezes every winter, rerouting or replacing it may be the lasting fix. A frost-free outdoor faucet stops the most common one.