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Guide

What to Do If Your Pipes Freeze in Bismarck

If your water isn’t flowing during a cold snap, here’s what to do: check whether the problem is a frozen pipe or a wider utility issue, shut off water if you see a leak or bulge, apply gentle heat to an accessible pipe if you can safely reach it, and never use an open flame.

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Quick Answer
✓Rule out a wider utility outage before assuming it’s your pipe.
✓Shut off water immediately if you see a leak or bulge.
✓Warm an accessible pipe gently — never with an open flame.
✓Concealed, underground, or still-frozen lines need a plumber.

First: Check Whether the Pipe Is Frozen or the Utility Is Off

Before assuming a pipe is frozen, rule out a broader issue. Check whether neighbors are also without water, or check for any utility notices in your area — a water main issue or a utility-side problem can look similar to a frozen pipe from inside the house. If it seems isolated to your property, and especially if it’s only affecting fixtures on an exterior wall, in a crawlspace, or in an unheated area, a frozen pipe is the more likely explanation, particularly during or right after a hard cold snap.

Turn Off Water If You See a Leak or Bulge

If you notice a bulge in a pipe, a crack, or any sign of water where it shouldn’t be, shut off water to the affected area or the whole house immediately, if it’s safe to reach the valve. A pipe that’s frozen and already showing damage can fail suddenly as ice inside continues to expand or as it starts to thaw. Shutting off water limits how much damage occurs if the pipe does fail.

Safe Ways to Warm an Accessible Pipe

If you can see and safely reach the suspected frozen section:
  • Open the affected faucet slightly. A small trickle of water can help relieve pressure and may assist once the pipe starts to thaw.
  • Increase warm air flow to the area. Opening a cabinet door under a sink, for example, lets warmer room air reach an exposed pipe.
  • Use a hair dryer or an electric heating pad designed for pipes, following the product’s own safety instructions, starting near the faucet end and working toward the coldest section.
  • Keep the heat source moving and never leave it unattended near a pipe.
If you can’t see or safely reach the frozen section — for example, if it’s inside a wall or underground — these DIY steps aren’t an option, and it’s time to call for help instead.

What Never to Use on Frozen Pipes

Never use an open flame — a blowtorch, a propane torch, or any open-flame device — to try to thaw a pipe. This is a serious fire risk, and it can also damage the pipe or surrounding materials. Avoid any method that concentrates intense heat in one spot, since that can cause a sudden pressure change in a pipe that already has ice inside it.

When to Call a Plumber

✓You can’t see or reach the frozen section of pipe
✓The pipe has already cracked, split, or is leaking
✓Water still isn’t flowing after a reasonable attempt at safe, gentle warming
✓You’re dealing with a suspected frozen water service line — the longer pipe running from the street to your home
✓The frozen section is concealed, underground or otherwise unsafe to access
A frozen pipe that doesn’t respond to safe warming, or one that shows signs of damage, needs a professional look rather than continued DIY attempts.

Why a Frozen Pipe Can Start Leaking Only After It Thaws

A pipe can crack while it’s still frozen, but the ice blocking the pipe can prevent water — and therefore a visible leak — from actually appearing until the ice thaws and water starts moving through the damaged section again. This is why a pipe that seemed fine while frozen can suddenly show a leak once temperatures rise or once flow is restored. It’s a good reason to have a suspected frozen pipe checked even if you don’t see active leaking yet.

Use a Shutoff Plan Before Thawing

Before applying gentle heat, identify the nearest safe customer-operated shutoff and the main shutoff. Do not force a stuck valve. Keep the faucet open slightly so melting water has a path, and watch the pipe as flow returns. A split may leak only after the ice plug disappears.

The American Red Cross frozen-pipe guidance recommends electric heat such as a hair dryer or heating pad and says never to use an open flame. If the line is concealed, underground or unsafe to reach, stop DIY thawing and call.

How to Prevent the Next Freeze

Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior wallsLet faucets drip during severe cold snapsKeep a consistent heat level, even when awayInsulate exposed pipes in unheated spacesDisconnect and drain outdoor hoses before winter

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my pipes are actually frozen?
Signs include no water or a weak trickle from one or more fixtures, frost visible on an exposed pipe, and the problem starting or worsening during a cold snap. If it’s affecting fixtures on an exterior wall or unheated area specifically, that also points toward a frozen pipe.
Is it safe to thaw a pipe with a hair dryer?
Generally yes, if you can safely reach the pipe and you keep the heat source moving rather than concentrated in one spot. Never use an open flame.
Why can a frozen pipe start leaking only after it thaws?
Ice can crack a pipe while it’s still frozen, but the ice itself can block water from reaching the damaged section. Once it thaws and water starts flowing again, the crack becomes a visible leak.
Should I leave a faucet dripping during a freeze warning?
Yes, a small trickle can help relieve pressure in the pipe and may reduce the risk of freezing in the first place.
Can a frozen pipe thaw on its own without damage?
Sometimes, if there’s no existing crack or damage. But there’s no way to know for certain without checking, which is part of why a professional look is reasonable if you’re not able to safely inspect it yourself.
What if the frozen pipe is underground or inside a wall?
DIY thawing isn’t a safe option in that case. Call a plumber — a frozen water service line or a pipe you can’t access needs professional evaluation.
Which pipe locations tend to freeze first?
Pipes in exterior walls, garages, crawlspaces, cabinets on outside walls and other cold or drafty zones are more exposed than lines in the heated interior. The actual frozen location still needs to be confirmed.
How long does it typically take a frozen pipe to thaw safely?
It varies based on how severe the freeze is and how the pipe is being warmed. There’s no fixed timeline — if safe warming methods aren’t restoring flow within a reasonable window, it’s time to call for help.
What’s the difference between a frozen interior pipe and a frozen water service line?
An interior pipe is inside your home’s plumbing system. A water service line is the pipe running from the street or main to your home — a longer run that’s harder to access and thaw, and one that typically needs professional attention.

Dealing with a frozen or burst pipe in Bismarck right now?

Call to describe the situation. See Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair.

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