A Pipe Split or Froze. Here Is What to Do.
A split or frozen pipe can flood a house in minutes. The first move is to stop the water, and the second is to get the pipe repaired before it fails again. Call, and a plumber serving your area will help you through both.
- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch
The First Ten Minutes
A burst pipe can release a great deal of water in a short time, and what you do first changes the damage.
- Close the main water valve. Turn it fully until it stops.
- Switch off power to the wet area only if you can do it from a dry spot. If the panel is wet, stay away and tell the dispatcher.
- Open the lowest tap in the house to drain the pipes and relieve pressure.
- Move belongings and rugs out of the water path.
- Take photos for your records before cleanup.
- Call, and tell the dispatcher where the water is and whether it has stopped.
Why Pipes Burst in Freezing Weather
Water expands when it freezes. The ice itself rarely splits the pipe where it forms. More often pressure builds between the ice blockage and a closed faucet and the pipe fails there, sometimes a distance from the ice.
Warrenton winters can bring the conditions for it. The January average low is about 24 degrees Fahrenheit, and the National Weather Service issued a freeze warning for Warrenton in April 2026 noting damage to unprotected outdoor plumbing. Outdoor spigots with hoses attached, pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and garages are the usual first places for trouble. Confirm which of these your home has before the cold arrives.
Sources: US Climate Data, Warrenton; National Weather Service freeze warning, April 8, 2026.
Pipe split or frozen right now?
Close the main valve and call. A plumber serving your area can be lined up as scheduling allows.
Thawing a Frozen Pipe Safely
If water has stopped flowing from a tap in cold weather, a pipe is probably frozen.
- Open the tap so melting water has somewhere to go.
- Warm the pipe with a hair dryer on low or warm towels, starting near the tap.
- Keep going until water runs at full flow.
- Check the pipe and joints for leaks once flow returns.
- If you cannot reach the frozen section, or you see a crack or wet spot, close the main valve and call.
Never use a torch, a propane heater or any open flame, which can start a fire or damage the pipe.
How a Burst Pipe Is Repaired
The plumber finds the split, cuts out the damaged section and replaces it with new pipe and fittings, then pressure tests the line before it is closed up. Copper, PEX and plastic each have their own repair methods, and the right fittings depend on the material. After the repair, the plumber checks nearby pipe for the same weakness, because a pipe that failed once in the cold has often been stressed in the same place.
Frozen pipes that split are repaired the same way as any other burst line. If the same home keeps having failures, the pipe repair and repiping page explains when replacement is a better answer.
Preparing Before the Next Cold Snap
A little preparation prevents most freeze damage.
- Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain outdoor spigots.
- Insulate exposed pipes in garages, crawl spaces and exterior walls.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls during a hard freeze.
- Let a faucet drip when a deep freeze is forecast.
- Keep the heat on if you travel, and set it no lower than you would want your pipes to be.
- Know where the main shutoff is and test that it turns.
Virginia winters are trending milder overall, according to the Virginia Climate Center at George Mason University, but hard cold snaps still occur.
After the Water Is Stopped
Once the pipe is repaired, wet materials come next. Drywall, insulation and flooring that stay wet can grow mold and weaken, so drying out after a burst pipe should start quickly. Keep photos, the plumber's notes and receipts for your insurer.
Cold snap forecast?
Know where the main shutoff is and keep dispatch on hand. A plumber serving your area can respond if a line gives out.
Signs a Pipe Is Close to Failing
Pipes often warn before they split. A faucet that sputters in a hard freeze, frost on a pipe in a crawl space or garage, a bulge or a small stain on a pipe and weak flow at one fixture all deserve attention. If a pipe has frozen once, check it again before the next cold night, because the same section tends to freeze in the same conditions.
Pipes along exterior walls, in unheated spaces and near vents are the most exposed. Insulation and a bit of heat in those areas make the biggest difference.
Burst and Frozen Pipe Questions
What do I shut off first when a pipe bursts?
The main water valve, then the power to any area where water is near outlets or the panel. Open a tap at the lowest point of the house to drain the lines.
Is it safe to thaw a frozen pipe myself?
Slowly, yes. Open the tap, warm the pipe with a hair dryer on low or warm towels, and work from the faucet toward the frozen section. Never use a torch or open flame.
Will a frozen pipe always burst?
No. Ice blocks flow but the split usually happens when pressure builds between the ice and a closed tap. A pipe can thaw intact, but check it once water returns.
How do I protect pipes before a freeze?
Disconnect hoses and shut off outdoor spigots, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, let a tap drip during a hard freeze and know where your main valve is.
What if the water damage is already bad?
Stop the water, move belongings, take photos and call. Drying wet drywall and flooring is handled separately on the water damage page, and your insurer should hear about it early.
Cold snap on the way?
Call if a pipe has split or stopped running. Dispatch will talk you through the shutoff and send a plumber serving your area when scheduling allows.