Leaks, pipes & freezing
Burst pipe repair
Turn off the main water shutoff first, then open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the lines. A plumber cuts out the split section, replaces it, and checks the rest of that pipe run, because one freeze rarely damages only one spot.
- Licensed Colorado plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
About burst pipe repair
Most burst pipes on the Front Range are freeze damage. Water expands as it freezes, pressure builds between the ice and a closed faucet, and the pipe splits somewhere that never froze solid. That is why the leak often shows up after the thaw, when the ice melts and water flows again.
Copper usually splits along a seam. PEX can swell and pull off a fitting. Old galvanized pipe tends to crack at a threaded joint. The repair depends on the material, how much of the run is exposed to cold, and whether the break is inside a finished wall or ceiling.
Burst pipe repair at a glance
- Urgency
- Can be an emergency: shut off the water and call
- Area
- the Denver metro & Northern Colorado
- Who does the work
- An independent, licensed Colorado plumber
- Permit
- Often required for replacements, repipes, sewer, water and gas line work
- Typical steps
- Stop the water → Find every break → Repair and protect → Pressure test
- Availability
- Call now to check plumber availability
Signs you need burst pipe repair
- Water running from a ceiling, wall or basement soffit
- A sudden drop in water pressure at every fixture
- A hissing or spraying sound inside a wall
- The water meter spinning with every tap closed
- No water at one fixture after a cold night, then a leak when it warms up
How the job usually goes
- 1
Stop the water
The plumber confirms the main shutoff holds, or shuts water off at the curb stop if the house valve fails.
- 2
Find every break
Exposed runs are checked by eye. Inside finished walls, the plumber opens the smallest access possible and checks for a second split nearby.
- 3
Repair and protect
The damaged section is cut out and replaced. Pipe that sits in a cold exterior wall or crawl space may be rerouted or insulated so it doesn't freeze again.
- 4
Pressure test
Water is turned back on slowly and the repair is watched under full pressure before walls are closed.
What affects the cost
Every job is priced by the plumber after they see it. These are the things that move the price most. Ask for the price before work starts.
- Pipe material (copper, PEX, CPVC or galvanized)
- Whether the break is exposed or inside a finished wall or ceiling
- How many breaks the freeze caused
- After-hours or holiday call timing
- Rerouting a pipe out of an exterior wall
Before the plumber arrives
Safe to do
- • Shut off the main valve and open the lowest faucet
- • Turn off the water heater (gas to pilot, or the electric breaker)
- • Move belongings and photograph the damage for insurance
Stop and call
- • Don't use electrical outlets or lights near standing water
- • Don't thaw a pipe with an open flame
- • Don't turn the water back on until the repair is pressure tested
Burst pipe repair questions
Where is my main water shutoff?
Will homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Why did my pipe burst after the cold snap ended?
How do I stop a burst pipe from causing more damage?
Can a burst pipe be repaired without opening the wall?
Is a burst pipe an emergency?
Burst pipe repair near you, by town
Related
Related plumbing services
Frozen pipe thawing
If a faucet gives no water or only a trickle after a hard freeze, a pipe is frozen.
Learn more
Leak detection
Turn off every fixture and watch the water meter's leak indicator.
Learn more
Repiping
Repiping replaces a home's water supply lines, usually because old galvanized steel has corroded or polybutylene is at risk of failing.
Learn more
Frost-free hose bib repair
A frost-free hose bib keeps its valve inside the heated house, but it still splits if a hose is left attached in freezing weather, because water can't drain out.
Learn moreGuides
Read before you call
Emergencies
What to do when a pipe bursts
Shut off the main water valve, open the lowest faucet in the house to drain the lines, turn off the water heater, and cut power to any room where water is reaching outlets. Then call a plumber, photograph the damage, and call your insurer.
Winter & freezing
How to prevent frozen pipes in a Colorado winter
Before the first hard freeze, disconnect hoses, blow out the sprinkler system and seal air leaks near pipes. During a cold snap, keep the heat at 55 °F or higher, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, and let faucets on outside walls drip.
Emergencies
How to find and test your main water shutoff
Look where the water line enters the house, usually through the basement or crawl space wall facing the street, next to the water meter. Test it once a year by closing it and confirming water stops at a faucet, so you know it works before a pipe bursts.
Water where it shouldn't be? Start with a call.
Tell us what's going on and your ZIP code. You'll be connected with a licensed plumber who serves your area.
Call now to check plumber availability