When Columbus temperatures drop into the single digits, exposed pipes can freeze. Water expands as it freezes, and the pressure can split a pipe open. Most of the damage happens later, when the ice thaws and water pours out of the crack into walls, ceilings, or a finished basement. Frozen pipes are largely preventable, and acting quickly when one freezes keeps a small problem from becoming a flood. If a pipe has already burst, call our emergency plumbing team now.
Which Pipes Freeze First
Not all plumbing is equally at risk. The pipes most likely to freeze in Central Ohio homes are the ones exposed to cold:
- Pipes in unheated spaces like crawlspaces, attics, garages, and basements.
- Pipes along exterior walls, especially in older homes with little insulation.
- Outdoor spigots and hose bibs, plus any irrigation lines left charged in winter.
- Pipes under sinks on outside walls, which is why kitchens and bathrooms on the north side of a house are common trouble spots.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
A little preparation goes a long way before the first hard freeze:
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses in the fall and shut off the supply to outdoor spigots.
- Insulate exposed pipes in crawlspaces, garages, and along exterior walls with foam pipe sleeves or heat tape.
- Let a faucet drip during extreme cold. A trickle of moving water is far less likely to freeze.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so household heat can reach the pipes.
- Keep the thermostat steady, even when you are away. Setting it no lower than the mid-50s protects the plumbing.
- Seal drafts near pipes where cold air sneaks in through foundation cracks or rim joists.
Warning Signs a Pipe Is Frozen
Catching a freeze early can prevent a burst. Watch for:
- No water or only a trickle from a faucet on a very cold day.
- Frost or bulging visible on an exposed pipe.
- Strange smells from a drain, which can signal a blockage from ice.
How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Pipe
If you suspect a pipe is frozen but not yet burst, act carefully:
- Open the faucet that the pipe feeds, so water can flow once it begins to thaw and pressure can escape.
- Apply gentle heat to the frozen section with a hair dryer, a heating pad, or towels soaked in warm water. Start near the faucet and work back toward the cold spot.
- Never use an open flame or a torch. It is a serious fire risk and can damage the pipe.
- Know where your main shutoff is. If a pipe bursts, shutting off the water immediately limits the damage.
If you cannot reach the frozen section, the pipe has already burst, or you simply are not sure, it is time to call a professional. A hidden burst can leak behind walls long before you see it, which is exactly the kind of slow damage our leak detection services are built to catch.
When to Call Allegiant Plumbing
With a frozen or burst pipe, minutes matter. Allegiant Plumbing runs same-day and emergency service across Columbus and the surrounding suburbs, from Dublin to Westerville and Hilliard. Call 614-824-5002 or reach out online to handle a freeze now, or to insulate vulnerable pipes before the next one.