What to Do If Your Pipes Are Frozen?
- Morgan Williams
- Sep 11, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 24, 2025
A frozen pipe can quickly turn from an inconvenience into a major property loss. In this post, we break down how to identify a frozen pipe, what immediate steps to take, and how Adiabat’s pipe freeze model helps insurers and organizations predict and prevent these losses before they happen.
How to Tell If a Pipe Is Frozen
Not every frozen pipe looks obviously frozen. Often, the early signs are subtle, and catching them before a burst occurs can make the difference between a small inconvenience and a major insurance claim.
Common warning signs include:
No water flow. When you turn on a faucet and nothing comes out or there is no water pressure, ice could be blocking part of the line.
Frost or condensation on the outside of pipes. Pipes in uninsulated areas like attics, basements, garages, or crawl spaces may visibly frost over.
Unusual odors. Ice blockages can trap odors inside the pipes, which then escape back through drains or faucets.
Bulging pipes. In some cases, the frozen section of the pipe may swell or appear distorted due to the internal pressure.
These symptoms often appear hours before pipe bursts. Recognizing them gives property owners and facility managers a chance to act before water damage occurs.
What to Do Immediately if Pipes are Frozen
If you suspect or confirm that a pipe has frozen, speed matters. Every minute that the blockage remains, pressure builds inside the system.
Here is what you can do right away:
Shut off the main water supply.
This prevents large volumes of water from flooding the property if the pipes burst.
Open all faucets
Even with the main supply shut off, opening faucets relieves any built-up pressure in the pipes. This reduces the chance of a rupture when the pipe begins to thaw.
Locate the frozen section.
Pipes along exterior walls, in unheated basements, attics, or crawl spaces are the most vulnerable. If you can find the section of pipe that is frozen, you can apply targeted heat.
Apply gentle, consistent heat
Use a hair dryer, heating pad, or portable space heater. Start warming the pipe closest to the faucet and work back toward the blockage. This allows melting water to escape. Do not use open flames!
Call a licensed plumber, if needed.
If you cannot find the frozen section or if the pipe is in a dangerous or inaccessible place, professional help is the safest option.
What to do to Prevent the Next Frozen Pipe
After resolving a frozen pipe, prevention is the best long-term strategy.
Insulate exposed pipes in attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
Sealing drafts around windows, doors, and foundations that allow cold air in
Keeping cabinet doors open during cold snaps so warm air circulates around pipes
Letting faucets drip slightly overnight during extreme cold
Maintaining indoor heating above 55°F, even when the property is vacant
For property owners, these steps reduce the chance of another frozen pipe. For insurers, they reduce claims and strengthen customer trust.
Why Frozen Pipe Risk Matters for Insurers
The challenge for insurers is not knowing when cold weather is coming, it is predicting which cold events will translate into claims. Without advanced tools, adjusters are left with disputes over whether policyholders took adequate precautions, and carriers remain reactive instead of proactive.
That’s Where Adiabat Comes In
Frozen pipes do not just inconvenience homeowners; they generate high-cost, high-frequency claims that carriers must resolve quickly and fairly. The challenge is that the warning signs are too complex for a simple temperature threshold or weather app to capture.
The Adiabat Pipe Freeze Model was built to solve this problem. By combining advanced forecasts with geospatial exposure data, building code context, and scenario planning, our model pinpoints where and when freeze risk will truly translate into losses.
Our support includes:
Custom geospatial forecasts and spatial analysis to pinpoint vulnerable areas.
Scenario planning for extreme cold events so organizations know what to expect.
Communication-ready graphics that insurers, utilities, and managers can use to alert policyholders, tenants, or customers.
Instead of leaving risk managers to interpret raw forecasts, Adiabat delivers clear, decision-ready insights that reduce liability and strengthen customer trust. With better forecasting and proactive planning, frozen pipe losses do not have to be inevitable.
Read more about preventing frozen pipes and protecting your property during winter using the following sources:
Red Cross - Preventing & Thawing Frozen Pipes: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html
O&D Custom Homes - Understanding How Water Pipes Freeze: https://www.odcustomhomes.com/education/understanding-how-water-pipes-freeze#:~:text=Water%20expands%20when%20it%20freezes,side%20of%20the%20frozen%20area
Consumer Reports – How to Keep Pipes from Freezing: https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/home-maintenance-repairs/how-to-keep-pipes-from-freezing-a2277945570
Disclosure: This post is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, financial, or insurance advice. Frozen pipe risk can vary widely depending on property characteristics and local conditions. Always consult licensed professionals for guidance specific to your situation. Adiabat provides geospatial and climate modeling tools to support decision-making but does not replace the judgment of insurers or property managers.
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