Frozen and Burst Pipe Cleanup in Ashburn, VA

When a pipe splits in the cold

Frozen and burst pipe cleanup starts after the ice has turned into a leak. A pipe usually does not burst while it is frozen. It splits where ice has stretched the wall of the pipe, then leaks once the temperature climbs and the ice melts. Many people find the water the afternoon after the cold snap, not during it.

Burst pipe water damage can run from a few gallons behind a kitchen cabinet to a basement ceiling that has been raining for hours. We extract the water, open wet drywall and deep-dry flooded basements and crawlspaces so the framing is not left damp.

Why bursts show up on the thaw

Water expands when it freezes, and the pressure builds between the ice plug and the closed faucet, not at the ice itself. When the plug melts, pressurized water comes out through the split. A frozen line can look fine from outside until the thaw lets it spray.

Frost-free hose bibs are a common culprit. Their valve seat sits inside the heated house, but a hose left attached traps water in the barrel. The water freezes inside the wall and splits the pipe behind the siding, and nobody sees it until spring when the hose is turned on. Our blog post on frost-free hose bib leaks explains how to check one.

Homes empty for the holidays are the other pattern. A heat failure or a thermostat set too low can let the house cool for days with no one to notice a drip. We see these as long runs of water with wet floors on two levels.

Signs of a frozen or burst pipe

• A faucet runs slowly or not at all in cold weather.
• Frost is visible on a pipe in a garage, crawlspace or attic.
• A ceiling stain appears that was not there yesterday.
• You hear water running when everything is off.
• The water meter keeps moving with all fixtures closed.
• A hose bib drips inside the wall after you turn the water back on.

How we clean up after a burst pipe

1. Stop the flow. Shut off the main and open a low faucet to drain the line. We help you find the valve if you are unsure.
2. Extract. Pumps and wand tools remove standing water from floors and carpet.
3. Open the wet cavities. We cut small openings in drywall and ceilings to let trapped water out.
4. Dry the structure. Air movers and dehumidifiers run with daily moisture readings, including in crawlspace joists.
5. Document and repair. Photos and readings go with you to your insurer, and the repair work follows.

Burst pipe damage by location

What to do before the next cold snap

Prevention costs a fraction of cleanup. Disconnect garden hoses from every hose bib before the first hard freeze and drain the line if it has its own shutoff inside the house. Insulate pipes in the garage, crawlspace and attic. Seal gaps where cables and pipes pass through exterior walls, because even a small draft can freeze a pipe in the stud bay behind it.

On the night of a hard freeze, open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls, let the cold tap drip at a pencil-lead rate and keep the thermostat steady instead of setting it back overnight. If you travel, set the thermostat to 55°F or higher and ask a neighbor to check the house.

Why we open walls after a pipe bursts

A burst pipe inside a wall cavity soaks insulation, the back of the drywall and the framing, and most of it is out of sight. Surface drying alone leaves that water trapped in the cavity. We cut small inspection holes, usually near the bottom of the wall, and use a meter and thermal camera to see how far the water went. If the insulation is wet, it comes out. If the drywall is soft, it comes out. If the cavity can be dried through the holes, we leave the wall in place.

If the split was at an outdoor faucet, read Why Frost-Free Hose Bibs Still Split Inside the Wall.

Common questions