When every faucet in a Richfield house runs dry during a hard freeze, the problem may be the service pipe that brings water in, not the plumbing inside the walls. Richfield Public Works warns that cold Minnesota winters can freeze these pipes, and it gives plain steps for what to do. This post sets out that advice and covers what follows if the pipe thaws and leaks.
Key takeaways
- The city lists no running water anywhere in the house, with the supply and shut-off valves open, as the sign of a frozen service pipe.
- The water meter is often in a well room or an unfinished area of the basement, and that space should stay above freezing.
- The city advises warming the area slowly with a space heater or hair dryer, never a blowtorch, and calling a qualified contractor.
- City help with a frozen service pipe runs only in regular business hours, 7 am to 3 pm, so a night or weekend freeze needs its own plan.
- A frozen pipe can split and then leak on the thaw, so know where the main shutoff is before winter.
The sign of a frozen service pipe
A frozen branch pipe in an exterior wall usually kills one fixture or one room. A frozen service pipe is different, because it cuts off the water supply to the entire house.
The city describes the sign this way: no running water anywhere in the house, even with the supply and shut-off valves open.
- Every faucet, tub and toilet tank stays dry or runs only a trickle.
- The main shutoff and the valve at the meter are both open.
- The basement or well room where the water enters feels cold.
Where the meter sits and why it matters
The city says the water meter, where the main supply enters, is often in a well room or an unfinished area of the basement. That area should be kept above freezing.
An unfinished space is often the coldest part of a house, so a small draft there matters more than a big one upstairs.
Simple habits from the city advice lower the risk before a deep freeze:
- Place a lamp by the water meter.
- Open the cupboard doors under a sink on an exterior wall.
- Have someone check the house when the household is away in winter.
- Keep a thin stream of water dripping, about the width of a pencil tip, only if the pipes have frozen before.
What the city says to do once it freezes
For a frozen service pipe the city advises warming the area slowly with a space heater or a hair dryer. It says never to use a blowtorch and to call a qualified contractor.
Richfield Public Works help with a frozen service pipe is available only in regular business hours, 7 am to 3 pm. A freeze that starts in the evening or on a weekend therefore needs a plan that does not wait on the city.
That plan is mostly about knowing the shutoff and having a contractor name on hand before the cold arrives.
What happens when the pipe thaws
A frozen pipe and a burst pipe are different stages of the same event. Ice blocks the pipe first, and the split often shows only after the ice melts.
A split that was hidden by ice
Ice can plug a crack in a pipe. When it melts, the crack opens and the full pressure of the supply runs into the room.
The leak often starts quietly, then grows as the pipe warms.
Where the water goes
When the meter sits in an unfinished area beside finished rooms, thaw water can run under a wall and into carpet, cabinets and drywall.
A burst pipe in a basement ceiling sends water into the joist bays and the room below.
What a thaw leak looks like
A soft ceiling stain, a damp baseboard or the sound of running water with every fixture closed can mean a pipe has opened.
A meter that keeps turning when no one is using water points the same way.
Getting ready before the freeze
The cheapest fix is the one made before the first hard freeze. Most of it takes no tools.
- Find the main shutoff valve and the valve at the meter, and make sure both turn.
- Tag the valves so anyone in the household can find them in the dark.
- Seal drafts around the meter room and keep that space above freezing.
- Save the name of a qualified contractor before the cold arrives, because city help runs only in business hours.
- Decide who will check the house during winter trips.
First steps if a thaw leak starts
A thaw leak is a frozen pipe water damage job at the start and a burst pipe water damage job once the pipe lets go.
- Shut off the main water valve first.
- Turn off power to wet areas if cords or outlets are in the water and the panel is dry.
- Photograph the pipe, the split and every wet surface.
- Move furniture and boxes off wet floors.
- Call for extraction and drying before the wet drywall and carpet sit for a day.
Extraction, opening walls and drying
Extraction pulls the standing water first. The crew then checks wall cavities and ceilings with a moisture meter and thermal imaging.
Wet drywall and insulation that cannot dry in place are opened, and air movers and dehumidifiers run until the readings reach a dry reference. Mold can start in 24 to 48 hours, so that timing matters.
The frozen pipe damage cleanup steps described for the wider area apply here as well, and the Richfield page lists the other water services.
Questions
How can I tell it is the service pipe and not one fixture?
The city's sign is no running water anywhere in the house, with the supply and shut-off valves open. One dead faucet usually points to a branch pipe instead.
Can a blowtorch be used to thaw the pipe?
No. The city says never to use a blowtorch. It advises warming the area slowly with a space heater or a hair dryer and calling a qualified contractor.
Should the faucet drip all winter?
The city says to keep a stream about the width of a pencil tip running only if the pipes have frozen before.
Can the city help at night or on a weekend?
The city lists regular business hours, 7 am to 3 pm, for help with a frozen service pipe. A night or weekend freeze needs a plan that does not depend on the city.
What if the pipe leaks after it thaws?
Shut off the main valve, photograph the damage and have the water extracted. Wet drywall and carpet are opened or removed and dried so the damage does not spread.
Is a frozen service pipe the same as a burst pipe?
No. Frozen means ice has blocked the pipe. Burst means it has split, and the split may only show once the ice melts, so a frozen pipe can become a burst pipe on the thaw.