Expert Edmonton Frozen Pipe Repair Services

As an Edmonton plumber will tell you, the days following a cold snap during the winter months tend to be busy ones. Though our international neighbors seem to think Canadian winters are worse than they are, Edmonton’s cold climate during the first couple of months of the year is no joke. Fortunately, we have the necessary infrastructure in place to see this cold weather through, but accidents can still happen. Our professional plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton are frequently contacted for frozen pipe repair services.

A Mr. Rooter Plumber walking up to a house
A frozen pipe completely covered in ice, with several icicles dripping off from the main section of the pipe.

The longer you ignore frozen lines, the greater your risk of needing expensive repairs. If you have a frozen water line in your home or suspect a line below ground has frozen, contact us right away and we’ll send someone out to mitigate damage and repair your lines as soon as we possibly can.

Frozen Pipe Repair In Edmonton: Our Process

A van branded with the Mr. Rooter Plumbing logo arriving at a home during the winter to provide services for frozen pipe repair.

Our expert plumbers have dealt with many frozen pipes in Edmonton. When we arrive for your appointment, we’ll show up in our red Mr. Rooter van and in uniform. Repair methods mainly depend on two factors: where freezing has occurred, and whether the freezing has caused a pipe to burst.

Frozen Pipes That Haven’t Burst

If an area of your plumbing lines has frozen but the line remains intact, count yourself lucky. For this frozen pipe repair, our plumbers will focus on thawing your pipes safely and slowly. You can expect your plumber to take these steps:

  1. Turn off the water supply.
  2. Locate the frozen pipe.
  3. Open all taps and flush toilets to empty drain lines and supply lines.
  4. Heat frozen pipe to melt ice.
  5. Inspect for leaks.
  6. If no leaks are found, they’ll turn back on the water supply. If leaks are found, they’ll follow the steps below to repair your burst pipe.
  7. Insulate lines to prevent freezing from reoccurring.

Typically, lines freeze above ground in Edmonton homes. Underground pipes should be located below the frost line to protect them from freezing, but in the case that your underground pipes freeze, we’ll need to access your supply line by removing your water meter.

Burst Frozen Pipes

When drain and water lines freeze, they may burst. This is especially likely if your Edmonton home has older plumbing infrastructure. We often find frozen copper pipes within older homes that are leaking. Our burst pipe repair process involves thawing the pipe, as well as conducting the repair of leaks. After thawing your pipe according to the above steps, we’ll repair the leak using the following simple procedure:

  1. Cut out the damaged segment.
  2. Cut out a segment of PEX piping of the same length.
  3. Connect the PEX segment to the copper line.
  4. Turn the water supply back on.

Things get tricky when pipes are located behind walls and within crawl spaces. In these cases, we’ll need to create a point of access to get at these pipes.

If there is a significant amount of water that has resulted from the burst pipe, it may be necessary to first pump out some of the water through an exterior line, as pictured below.

A long, curved black pipe extending across a backyard into the basement window of a home during the winter in Edmonton, AB.

Prevention Services

If you’ve required frozen pipe repair service in the past, consider taking preventative measures to avoid this problem in the future. Keeping pipes warm in cold temperatures is as easy as calling our expert team to insulate your crawl spaces and exposed pipes located in unheated areas.

What to Expect When You Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing Of Edmonton

Although we’re great advocates of preventative plumbing maintenance, the majority of our customers call us when they have a problem. We understand that plumbing issues can be stressful. There’s the concern about the cost of repair services, a worry over additional damage, and the inconvenience of losing access to a fully functioning plumbing system in the interim.

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton, we aim to make the repair process as simple and straightforward as possible to put your mind at ease. From the moment you first call us to the end of your service, we want your experience to be as great as it possibly can be. To do this, we offer free, in-person consultations, upfront pricing, and a plumbing guarantee so that you can rest assured your money is well-spent.

Why Choose Us For Frozen Pipe Repair In Edmonton?

When you choose Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton for your Edmonton frozen pipe repair service, you get prompt services from a reliable plumber who is licensed, insured, and highly experienced. Our plumbers are experienced in both commercial plumbing and residential plumbing services, so no matter what kind of property you own, we have the expertise to do the job right.

Other plumbing companies will charge you hundreds of dollars for a service that doesn’t end with your problem being solved. When you work with us, we’ll provide you with upfront pricing and a workmanship and parts warranty so that you can guarantee your frozen pipe repairs will be successful.

Over the years, we’ve developed a reputation for providing excellent customer service to homeowners and business owners not just within Edmonton’s city limits, but also in surrounding communities such as Sherwood Park and St. Albert.

Some of the ways in which we prioritize the customer experience are:

  • Clearly explaining the problem and making recommendations for you to choose from
  • Respecting your home by thoroughly cleaning up after ourselves
  • Showing you the results of our work and answering any questions you may have before leaving
  • Providing friendly, transparent communication whether you’re interacting with our office staff or our plumbing professionals

Edmonton Frozen Pipe Repair: FAQs

How Can I Tell If I Have A Frozen Pipe?

As a homeowner, it can be difficult to determine the cause of the plumbing problems you’re experiencing. However, if the temperature is well below freezing and you’re only getting a small trickle of water when you turn on your tap, you probably have a frozen pipe.

Look for any sign of water infiltration to find out whether a frozen pipe has burst. Common signs include:

  • Brown stains on your ceilings or walls
  • Musty, damp smell
  • Wet spots

If you see any of the above signs, call us and inquire about our frozen pipe repair services.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have A Frozen Pipe?

It’s important to know what to do if your pipes freeze so that you can take immediate action against water damage. The first thing you should do is shut off your water supply by turning off your water shutoff valve. Once the water flow has been blocked, turn on all your taps to drain the lines. This will reduce pressure and decrease the likelihood that your pipes will burst while you wait for your plumber to arrive for frozen pipe repair service.

Can I Just Wait For Frozen Pipes To Thaw?

We don’t recommend waiting for your frozen pipes to thaw in Edmonton. If they freeze in the middle of winter, it’s unlikely that you’ll see temperatures above freezing within the next day or so. Even if temperatures do rise slightly, it can take days for your pipes to thaw.

Additionally, the longer a pipe is left frozen, the greater the chances are that it’ll burst. Leaky pipes can result in thousands of dollars in repairs due to structural damage. One of the biggest consequences of water damage is wood rot, which is difficult to stop once it begins to spread.

Who Is Responsible For A Frozen Pipe?

If the frozen pipe is located anywhere on your Edmonton property, you’re responsible for it. In most cases, your home insurance policy won’t cover it. If your line is located somewhere reasonably accessible, your insurance company will deem it your fault for not taking preventative maintenance steps to prevent freezing and bursting. On the other hand, if the frozen pipe is buried beneath your property, you may have some coverage—but this depends on your plan. Contact your insurance company for more information.

Why Do Pipes Sometimes Burst When They Freeze?

Without going too deep into the science behind the process, frozen pipes occasionally burst due to an increase in pressure. Water molecules expand when they turn from liquid to solid. If there’s not enough space within the pipe to allow for this expansion, pressure will build and a rupture may occur at a point of weakness.

When Should I Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing For A Frozen Pipe?

For not just Edmonton frozen pipe repair, but any type of plumbing problem you’re experiencing, we strongly recommend giving us a call as soon as you notice an issue. We can walk you through the necessary steps to shut down the water flow and mitigate damage over the phone while you wait for our expert plumbers to arrive.

The longer you leave a plumbing problem unaddressed, the more likely it is that the problem will worsen and turn into a full-blown plumbing emergency. If you’re resistant to calling out of concern about costs, take advantage of our upfront pricing. We’ll send someone over to take a look and provide you with pricing. The choice as to whether you go ahead with service or wait is entirely yours.

Will Pouring Hot Water Down The Drain Thaw A Frozen Pipe?

In most cases, pouring hot water down your drain is not a replacement for a professional Edmonton frozen pipe repair service. There are two main types of lines in your plumbing system: supply lines and drain lines. If freezing has occurred in your supply line, adding hot water won’t do a thing.

If the freezing has occurred in a drain line, it’s unlikely that it’s located close to the drain in your sink or shower, as the drains within your home should be well-heated. As the water goes down the drain line, it will cool down. By the time it reaches the frozen blockage, it will have cooled down so much that it won’t effectively thaw the frozen water. You’ll need professional frozen pipe repairs to deal with this blockage.

How Can I Keep Pipes In My Garage From Freezing?

Whether you’re concerned about your water line or drain lines freezing in your garage, crawl spaces, or other exposed areas, there are several steps you can take to reduce the chances of this occurring:

  • Insulate your lines: This is undoubtedly the best way to protect your lines. Today, we use PEX for plumbing repairs and installations due to its natural resistance to temperature fluctuations, but if you live in an older home, you probably have copper pipes. Insulating these will protect them from freezing and bursting.
  • Turn up your thermostat: Though there will be an added cost to your utility bill, this cost will be much lower than the cost of repairing any damage that results from a burst frozen pipe.
  • Keep your cabinets open: This promotes air circulation and protects pipes located in these cabinets.
  • Keep your faucets on: Like turning up your thermostat, keeping your faucets trickling will increase your utility bill. However, it’s a good option for situations where you’re not ready to invest in insulation yet.
  • Invest in a space heater: If you don’t have any heating in your garage, plug in a space heater to keep the temperature below freezing.

If You Need Frozen Pipe Repair In Edmonton, Don’t Delay—Call Us Today!

If you have a frozen pipe, whether burst or not, you need to get it fixed right away to minimize damage and interruptions to your daily routine. Don’t risk paying exorbitant costs that greatly exceed the estimate by going with another company. Take advantage of our upfront pricing and service guarantee when you choose our Edmonton frozen pipe repair service!

To get one of our expert plumbers out to your property as soon as possible, give us a call. Not in a rush? You can also fill out our online job estimate request form and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as we can.

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