Safety first
Stay out of standing water near outlets, cords or the electric panel, and don't walk through water to reach the panel. If you smell gas, leave the building and call 911 or your gas utility from a safe place.
1. Which one is it?
If a pipe is frozen but hasn't leaked
If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Pipes along exterior walls, in crawl spaces, attics and garages, or where the water line comes in through the foundation freeze most often. The American Red Cross recommends:
- Keep the faucet open. As the ice melts, running water helps melt the rest.
- Apply gentle heat with an electric heating pad, a hair dryer, a portable space heater kept away from anything flammable, or towels soaked in hot water. Don't use electric heat near standing water or wet appliances.
- Never use an open flame: no blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, or charcoal stove.
- Keep heating until full water pressure returns, then check your other faucets. If one pipe froze, others may have too.
Call a licensed plumber when: you can't find or reach the frozen section, or it won't thaw.
If a pipe has burst
- Close your home's main water shut-off valve. It's on the incoming water supply line; its location varies by home. Don't confuse it with the street valve in the box at the curb, which is hard to turn and needs a special tool.
- Stay out of standing water near electricity. Don't walk through water to reach the electric panel. If the panel area is wet, stay out.
- Don't use electric heaters or dryers near the water to thaw or dry things out.
- Take photos or video of the damage before you clean up if you may contact your home insurer. The NAIC recommends documenting losses first.
- Call a plumber to repair the pipe and check for other frozen or damaged sections.
2. Before the next cold snap
From the American Red Cross:
- Disconnect, drain and store garden hoses. Close the inside valves that feed outdoor faucets, and open the outdoor faucets so water can drain.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas such as attics, crawl spaces, garages and under cabinets.
- Keep garage doors closed if water lines run there, and open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors so warm air reaches the pipes. Move cleaners and chemicals out of children's reach.
- On very cold nights, let cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes.
- Keep the thermostat at the same setting day and night. If you'll be away, leave the heat on at no lower than 55°F.
Ready.gov also recommends finding the shut-off valve on your main water line now, tagging it so it's easy to spot, and making sure it closes all the way. A valve can be rusted open or fail to close completely.
3. When you call our line
A short automated prompt asks for your ZIP code. If an independent provider who serves your ZIP is available, your call is connected. Availability isn't guaranteed, especially after hours. During a hard freeze, many homes may need help at once.
We don't charge you for the referral; your phone carrier's usual rates apply. The provider quotes the job. Not sure what to say? Get call-ready in three taps.
4. What to ask before work starts
- Their SC license number. See how to check a plumber's license.
- A written estimate that describes the work, materials, completion date and price.
- Whether the repair needs a permit. See who issues plumbing permits.
Sources
- American Red Cross, Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes (checked October 22, 2026)
- CDC, Protect yourself from electrical hazards (checked October 22, 2026)
- Ready.gov (FEMA), Safety Skills (checked October 22, 2026)
- NAIC, What you need to know when filing a homeowners claim (checked October 22, 2026)
- Piedmont Natural Gas, Natural Gas Safety (checked October 22, 2026)