No water this morning? How to find and thaw a frozen pipe
If you turn on a faucet on a cold morning and get only a trickle or nothing at all, assume a pipe is frozen. Thawing it carefully, and watching for a split as it melts, can save you a flooded crawl space.
Last reviewed October 30, 2026 against the sources listed below. General information, not insurance or legal advice.
Pipe-freeze risk for Newberry right now
Pipe-freeze risk, the week ahead: Low
- Coldest hour: 50°F, Fri, Oct 30 at 8:00 AM ET
- Hours at or below 32°F: 0; at or below 28°F: 0; at or below 20°F: 0
No freezing temperatures in the hourly forecast. A good week to find your main shutoff, buy faucet covers and check pipe insulation before the first hard freeze.
Computed from the National Weather Service hourly forecast for Newberry, updated Fri, Oct 30 at 7:42 AM ET. Low spots, river bottoms and rural yards often run colder than the forecast point. Thresholds: 32°F freezing; 28°F the NWS hard-freeze level; 20°F the freeze-alert threshold for homes in southern states from University of Illinois research.
No active weather alerts for the area right now. Water and weather center
First, figure out what is frozen
- Only one faucet is dry: the pipe to that fixture is frozen, usually in an outside wall or under a sink on an outside wall.
- Nothing works anywhere: the main line is frozen where it enters the house, in the crawl space, or between the meter and the house. On a well, it may be the pump line, the pressure switch tubing or the pressure tank.
- Ask a neighbor. If they have no water either, the problem may be the utility's, so call your water provider.
Thaw it safely
- Open the faucet. As the ice melts, running water helps melt the rest, and an open faucet relieves pressure.
- Warm the pipe, starting nearest the faucet and working back toward the frozen section. The American Red Cross lists safe heat sources: an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater kept away from anything flammable, or towels soaked in hot water.
- Keep going until full pressure returns.
- Check every other faucet. If one pipe froze, others may have too.
Never
- Use a blowtorch, propane or kerosene heater, charcoal stove or any other open flame. Crawl spaces hold dust, insulation and wood framing, and a torch can overheat the pipe and its joints.
- Use an electric heater or hair dryer while standing in water.
- Leave a space heater running unattended in a crawl space.
Watch for the split
Pipes usually burst downstream of the ice, in the section between the blockage and the closed faucet. As the pipe thaws, have someone watch the crawl space or the wall and be ready to close the main shutoff. If the pipe burst.
Call a licensed plumber when
- You cannot find the frozen section, or it is inside a wall or ceiling.
- The frozen section is underground or between the meter and the house.
- You see a split, bulge or leak.
- It is a well line, pressure switch or tank and you are not comfortable working near electrical parts.
Thawing a frozen well line
Turn the pump off at the breaker first, so it does not run against a blocked line or run dry. Warm the exposed pipe, the pressure switch and its small sensing tube gently, then restore power. A heat lamp kept well clear of anything flammable can help in a pump house. More on wells.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a hair dryer to thaw a pipe?
Yes. The American Red Cross lists an electric hair dryer, a heating pad, a portable space heater kept away from flammables, or hot wet towels as safe options. Do not use any open flame.
Should I leave the faucet open while thawing?
Yes. An open faucet lets melting water flow, which speeds thawing and relieves pressure.
How do I know if a frozen pipe has burst?
Often you cannot tell until it thaws. Watch for water as it melts and be ready to close the main shutoff.
Policies vary. Check your own policy and ask your insurer or agent about anything that affects your claim. Rules can change; this page reflects the sources below as of October 30, 2026. NewberrySCPlumbing.com is not a plumber, insurer, adjuster or law firm.
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