Winter
Frozen and burst pipe repair in Toronto
Every deep cold snap brings the same calls: no water at the kitchen tap, then a pipe that splits once it thaws. Here’s how to handle it safely, and how to stop it happening again.
or dial (365) 363-3352Answered day and night
- Pipes along exterior walls, especially under kitchen sinks on outside walls
- Pipes routed through cold garages, crawlspaces and rooms sitting above a garage
- Outdoor taps that weren’t shut off and drained in the fall
- Bay windows, cantilevered floors and poorly insulated additions
A price before we startNothing cut or opened until you say yes.
- Licensed & insureddetails confirmed on the call
- Phones answered 24/7a person, not a queue
- Price before we startcall-out rate on the phone
- Old Toronto & East Yorkhouses, condos, businesses
Where pipes freeze in Toronto homes
- Pipes along exterior walls, especially under kitchen sinks on outside walls
- Pipes routed through cold garages, crawlspaces and rooms sitting above a garage
- Outdoor taps that weren’t shut off and drained in the fall
- Bay windows, cantilevered floors and poorly insulated additions
- Older homes where cold air leaks in around old windows and rim joists
Signs you need frozen & burst pipes
- Low pressure on every tap
- Rusty water first thing in the morning
- Green or white crust on fittings
- Knocking pipes when a tap shuts
- A grey, soft pipe entering at the meter
If a pipe is frozen
- Open the tap it feeds so melting water can flow out.
- Warm the frozen section gradually with a hair dryer, hot towels or a portable heater set well back from walls and finishes. Start nearest the tap and work back.
- Never use a torch or open flame. It can start a fire inside the wall.
- If you can’t reach or find the frozen section, call before it splits.
If a pipe has burst
Shut off the main water valve right away (usually in the basement near the meter at the front of the house) and turn off the water heater. Then call. A frozen pipe often doesn’t leak until it thaws, so a pipe that froze overnight can start pouring in the afternoon.
How we repair and prevent
- Replacing the split section with copper or PEX, then pressure testing
- Rerouting lines away from cold exterior walls where possible
- Insulating exposed runs and sealing the air leaks that cause the freezing
- Installing frost-free outdoor taps with an indoor shut-off
- Adding thermostatically controlled heat cable where rerouting isn’t practical
Our guide to stopping pipes from icing up over a Toronto winter covers what you can do yourself before the cold arrives.
On the job, step by step
- 1Trace the run
Pipe followed from the meter, material identified at each change.
- 2Isolate the section
Nearest valve closed, line drained at the lowest tap.
- 3Cut and replace
Copper or PEX run in, transitions made with proper fittings.
- 4Gauge it
Pressure gauge on a hose bib, joints watched before walls close.
Questions we get about frozen & burst pipes
Is it worth letting taps drip during a deep freeze?
For taps on pipes you know are vulnerable, yes. A thin, steady trickle keeps water moving and relieves pressure, and it costs far less than a burst pipe.
Does insurance cover burst pipes?
Sudden bursts are often covered, but many policies exclude freezing damage if a home was left unheated or unchecked for a period of time. If you travel in winter, read your policy’s conditions about heat and home checks.
Why did the pipe split somewhere other than where it froze?
Ice forming in a pipe pushes pressure into the water trapped between the ice and the closed tap. The pipe often splits in that section, not at the ice itself.
Frozen or burst pipe? Call now.
A plumber answers day and night, and the call-out rate is quoted before anyone drives over.