Leak detection and repair
Hidden leaks found behind walls, under floors and in supply lines, then repaired.
For your home
Frozen and burst pipe repair in Kitchener-Waterloo
Repair of pipes that have frozen or split, and what to do first while you wait.
- Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- WSIB covered
- Homes and businesses
Frozen and burst pipe repair for homes across Kitchener-Waterloo
When water freezes inside a pipe, it expands and can split the pipe open. The leak often does not start until the ice thaws, which is why a burst pipe is often found on the first mild day after a cold snap.
If a pipe has burst, shut off the main water valve before you do anything else. In most homes it is in the basement, on the wall where the water line comes in through the foundation, usually right beside the water meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops, then open a tap on the lowest floor to let the pressure out of the lines. Once the water is off, call us during our regular hours, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and we will repair or replace the damaged section.
Signs you need frozen and burst pipe repair
- No water from a tap on a very cold day
- Frost on an exposed pipe
- A bulge or crack in a pipe
- Water dripping from a ceiling or pooling after a cold night
- A tap in an unheated space, such as a garage, that has stopped working
How the job works
Shut off the water
You turn off the main valve first, so the damage stops spreading while you wait for the repair.
Find every damaged section
We check the frozen run of pipe along its full length, since one freeze can crack a pipe in more than one place.
Repair or replace
We cut out the damaged pipe and replace it with a new section.
Prevent a repeat
We look at why that pipe froze, such as an outside wall, a cold crawl space or a hose left connected, and suggest how to protect it.
Common questions
How do I thaw a frozen pipe safely?
Open the tap it feeds, then warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or a space heater kept at a safe distance, working from the tap back toward the frozen section. Never use an open flame, which can start a fire or crack the pipe.
Where is my main water shut-off?
Look in the basement where the water line enters through the foundation, usually on the wall facing the street, next to the water meter. Find it before you need it, and check that it turns.
How can I stop my pipes from freezing?
Disconnect garden hoses before winter, shut off and drain outdoor taps from inside if they are not frost-free, and keep the heat on in rooms with plumbing. On very cold nights, opening the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls lets warm air reach the pipes.
Where we do frozen and burst pipe repair
Based in Kitchener, working across Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and Stratford.
- Kitchener, our home base
- Plumber in Waterloo
- Plumber in Cambridge
- Plumber in Guelph
- Plumber in Stratford