Frozen, Not Yet Burst
A frozen pipe that hasn't split yet is a different situation from an active burst, and it's worth treating differently. If water isn't flowing from a fixture but nothing is actively leaking, the line may simply be frozen rather than broken, and thawing it carefully can prevent it from ever bursting at all. If a pipe has already split and water is flowing, that's an active emergency and our burst pipe repair team should be your first call instead.
Why Pipes Freeze in Salem's Mild Winters
Salem's winters are milder than much of the country, which is exactly why the occasional hard freeze catches homes off guard. Supply lines running through unheated crawl spaces, garages, and exterior walls don't get the ambient warmth of the living space above them. A short but genuine cold snap between December and February, which happens most years, is enough to freeze an exposed line that was never insulated for real winter conditions.
Signs a Pipe Is Frozen
No Water From a Fixture
A tap that produces nothing, or just a trickle, during cold weather.
Frost on Visible Pipe
Visible frost on an exposed line in a crawl space or garage.
Bulging Section of Pipe
Ice expansion can visibly bulge a pipe before it splits.
Unusual Odor From a Drain
A frozen drain trap can sometimes push sewer odor back into the home.
No Water During a Cold Snap?
We can often thaw a line safely before it bursts.
How We Thaw a Frozen Pipe
Locate
Find the frozen section, often where the pipe is least insulated.
Shut Off if Needed
Close the local shutoff if there's any sign of a crack forming.
Thaw Gradually
Controlled heat application, never an open flame or uncontrolled heat source.
Inspect
Check the thawed section for hairline cracks before restoring full flow.
What Not to Do
Never use an open flame to thaw a pipe yourself. Uneven, uncontrolled heat is one of the most common ways a simple freeze turns into a burst pipe and a fire risk at the same time. All repair work follows the Oregon Plumbing Specialty Code, based on the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Protecting Pipes Before the Next Freeze
Insulating exposed pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and exterior walls before winter is the most effective single step. Letting a faucet drip slightly on the coldest nights keeps water moving through the line, making a full freeze much less likely. Knowing where your main shutoff valve is located means you're ready if a pipe does split despite precautions.
What Frozen Pipe Service Costs
Want your real number? Call (503) 974-3329, we respond quickly during cold snaps since a frozen line can crack at any point.
Common Questions
No water flow with no visible leak usually means frozen. Active water flow or a wet spot means it has already burst, which needs immediate emergency response.
Carefully, with gentle heat like a hair dryer on low, yes. Never use an open flame or a high-heat source, which can crack the pipe or start a fire.
Mild average winters mean less pipe insulation than in colder climates, so the occasional genuine cold snap between December and February catches exposed lines unprepared.
Yes, a slight drip keeps water moving through the line and makes a full freeze much less likely.