Restoration Services Blog

A Metro East cold snap can drop temperatures fast, and a frozen pipe that bursts can flood a home in minutes. The good news is that most frozen-pipe disasters are preventable with a little prep before winter hits.

Here’s the core of it. To prevent frozen pipes, you keep vulnerable pipes warm, keep water moving during hard freezes, and seal out the cold air that reaches them. A few simple steps in fall save you from a burst-pipe flood in January. All Clean Restoration would rather help you avoid the emergency than clean up after it.

Why Do Pipes Freeze and Burst?

Water expands as it freezes. Inside a closed pipe, that expanding ice builds enormous pressure.

The pipe doesn’t usually burst at the ice itself. It bursts at a weak point downstream, where the pressure has nowhere to go. That’s why a frozen pipe can seem fine, then split and flood once it thaws.

Which Pipes Are Most at Risk?

The cold reaches some pipes more than others. The vulnerable ones are:

• Pipes in unheated spaces — basements, crawlspaces, garages, and attics.
• Pipes along exterior walls with little insulation.
• Outdoor spigots and sprinkler lines.
• Pipes under sinks on outside walls.

These are the spots to focus your winter prep.

How Do You Winterize Your Pipes?

A short checklist handles most of the risk. Do these before the first hard freeze:

1. Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves in basements, crawlspaces, and garages.
2. Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and shut off outdoor spigots.
3. Seal air leaks near pipes — around rim joists, vents, and where lines enter the house.
4. Keep the heat on, even when away, at 55°F or higher.
5. Open cabinet doors under sinks on cold nights to let warm air reach the pipes.

None of this is expensive. All of it is cheaper than a flooded home.

What Should You Do During a Hard Freeze?

When temperatures really drop, take two extra steps:

• Let faucets drip. Moving water is much harder to freeze.
• Keep interior doors open so heat circulates to colder rooms.

If you’re leaving town during a deep freeze, consider shutting off the main water supply and draining the lines. A pipe can’t flood a house that has no water in it.

What If a Pipe Freezes Anyway?

Act fast, and don’t wait for it to thaw on its own. If you find a frozen pipe:

• Shut off the main water supply in case the pipe has already cracked.
• Open the faucet the pipe feeds, so water can escape as it thaws.
• Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or towels — never an open flame.
• Call for help if you can’t reach it or you suspect a burst.

If a pipe does burst, every minute counts. Our water removal crew aims to be on-site within 30 minutes, and fast water damage restoration keeps a burst pipe from becoming a mold problem. The IICRC standard for drying is why we measure and verify instead of guessing.

We help homeowners winter-proof and recover across the Metro East, from Alton to Waterloo. See the service area or contact us before the cold sets in.

A frozen pipe won’t wait for morning. Neither do we. If a pipe bursts, call All Clean Restoration for immediate water extraction. A real person answers 24/7, 365 days a year — holidays and weekends included. Licensed. Bonded. Insured. IICRC-certified. BBB A+. Serving Southern Illinois and the St. Louis Metro since 1981. Illinois: 618-235-3202 · Missouri: 314-454-0442 · Se Habla Español: 618-792-3633