Acton winters get cold enough to freeze a poorly protected water line overnight. A frozen pipe can stop your water, and a thaw that happens too fast can split the pipe and flood a basement or kitchen. This page covers the simple steps that prevent most frozen pipe calls we see in Acton.

If water has already stopped, or you hear ice in a line and see a bulge, call 1-888-449-7444. That is an emergency. Do not use an open flame to thaw a pipe.

Why Acton Homes Freeze Lines

Many Acton houses have pipes in crawl spaces, garages, or exterior walls that were never insulated for a long cold snap. Wind across an unheated garage, a kitchen sink on an outside wall, or a hose bib that was left charged can freeze first. Once one line freezes, nearby fittings often follow.

If you want service in town, start at our Acton page or plumbing services in Acton.

What To Do Before The Next Cold Night

• Disconnect garden hoses and shut the indoor valve for each outdoor tap
• Open the cupboard doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls
• Let a thin trickle run from the farthest faucet if the forecast is well below freezing
• Keep the heat on, even in rooms you do not use every day
• Seal obvious gaps where cold air hits a pipe in a garage or crawl space

If A Pipe Is Already Frozen

Shut the main water valve if you can find it. Open the faucet on that line so pressure has somewhere to go when the ice melts. A hair dryer on low, or a space heater kept well away from anything that can burn, is safer than boiling water or a torch. If you cannot reach the frozen section, or the pipe has already split, stop and call us.

After a thaw, watch the line for an hour. A hairline crack can wait until the ice is gone before it leaks.

When To Call Plumber On Demand

Call if you have no water, a burst line, or a wet ceiling or basement after a freeze. We run 24/7. You can also use the contact form if the job can wait for a callback.

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