Frozen and Burst Pipes: A Nebraska Winter Guide

Pipes freeze when they run through unheated or poorly insulated spaces during a hard cold snap, and they burst when expanding ice builds more pressure than the pipe can hold. Most of the water damage shows up at the thaw, when water starts moving through the split. A few hours of preparation in the fall prevents most frozen pipes, and a fast, orderly response limits the damage when one does break.

Why Nebraska homes are vulnerable

Eastern Nebraska winters bring stretches of subzero nights, strong north and northwest winds, and quick swings between mild afternoons and bitter mornings. Wind matters as much as the thermometer. It pushes cold air through small gaps around rim joists, hose bibs, and cable or dryer vent penetrations, and a pipe sitting next to one of those gaps can freeze even when the rest of the house is comfortable.

Risk generally climbs once outdoor temperatures drop to around 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower and stay there for several hours. The pipes we see fail most often are in predictable places:

• Kitchen and bathroom supply lines inside exterior walls, especially north-facing ones
• Lines along the rim joist at the top of a basement wall
• Crawl spaces and unheated garages
• Rooms built over a garage, and bump-outs that hang past the foundation
• Outdoor faucets with a hose still attached
• Vacant homes, rentals between tenants, and houses left for a winter trip

Before the first hard freeze

A fall checklist takes an afternoon:

• Disconnect garden hoses. A frost-free faucet can still split if a hose traps water inside it.
• Shut off and drain outdoor faucets if they have an interior shutoff valve.
• Have the sprinkler system blown out before the ground freezes.
• Insulate exposed pipes in the basement, crawl space, and garage with foam pipe sleeves.
• Seal air leaks where pipes, wires, and vents pass through exterior walls and rim joists.
• Find and test your main water shutoff. Make sure it turns, and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.

During a cold snap

When the forecast calls for a run of very cold nights:

• Keep the thermostat at the same setting day and night.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so room air reaches the pipes.
• Let a thin, steady trickle run from faucets fed by vulnerable lines. Run both hot and cold.
• If you are leaving town, leave the heat on and set no lower than about 55 degrees, and ask someone to walk through the house daily. For longer trips, consider shutting off the main and draining the lines.

How to tell a pipe is frozen

The usual sign is a faucet that gives a trickle or nothing at all on a very cold morning while other fixtures work normally. You may also see frost on an exposed section of pipe or a slight bulge where ice has formed.

Thawing a frozen pipe safely

1. Open the faucet the pipe feeds. Moving water helps melt ice, and the open tap gives pressure somewhere to go.
2. Locate the frozen section if you can. Look where the line passes along an exterior wall or through an unheated space.
3. Check the pipe for splits before applying heat. If you see a crack, shut off the main first.
4. Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, a heating pad, or towels soaked in hot water. Start at the faucet end and work back toward the frozen spot.
5. Keep going until full water pressure returns, then check the area for drips.

Do not use a torch, a heat gun, or any open flame. They can ignite framing inside the wall and can turn trapped water to steam. Use space heaters only where you can watch them and keep them clear of anything that burns. If the frozen section is inside a wall or you cannot find it, call a plumber.

If a pipe bursts

1. Shut off the main water valve. This is the single most important step.
2. Stay clear of electricity. If water is near outlets, cords, or the panel, keep out of that area until the power is off.
3. Open faucets to drain the remaining water from the lines.
4. Take photos and video of the break and the affected rooms.
5. Call a plumber to repair the pipe and a restoration company to handle the water.

A burst supply line can release a large volume of water in a short time, and when the break is upstairs it runs through floors, ceilings, and wall cavities on the way down. That hidden moisture is why we recommend professional water damage restoration for anything beyond a small puddle on a hard floor. Once the structure is dry, the repair side is usually drywall and painting and sometimes new flooring.

Coming home to a break

If a pipe burst while the house was empty, the water may have run for days. Do not walk under sagging ceilings. Shut off the water, document everything, and expect that some materials will need to be removed. Where water has sat for more than a couple of days, mold remediation is often part of the job.

A note on insurance

Many homeowners policies cover sudden pipe bursts, but coverage depends on the policy, and some policies have conditions about keeping the home heated while it is unoccupied. Your agent can tell you what applies to you. Our insurance claims page describes how Air Force Restoration works with carriers during a claim.

Keep it simple

Disconnect the hoses, seal the drafts, know where the main shutoff is, and keep the heat steady when it gets bitter. If a pipe freezes, thaw it slowly with gentle heat. If one bursts, shut off the water, stay away from wet electrical areas, and get drying started quickly.