Edmonton Emergency PlumberCall780-652-1462

Frozen pipes and no water? What to do in Edmonton

Little or no water comes out, and it's cold outside. Find out where the freeze is, then thaw it gently or get help.

Call 780-652-1462

Call or send a request any time, day or night. Calls are answered by an automated assistant and transcribed. Calls are answered in English.

A local plumber will call you back as soon as possible. If this can't wait, call other plumbers too.

What to do right now

  1. Open every tap and flush every toilet

    Turn on all your taps and flush each toilet. EPCOR says that if water isn't flowing and there is no known water main break in your area, you likely have a frozen service line.

  2. Frozen service line? Call EPCOR

    EPCOR treats a frozen service line as a water emergency. Call 780-412-4500 at any hour.

    EPCOR's published fee for thawing a frozen water service is nothing for the first visit and $300 an hour for a second visit.

  3. Don't leave it frozen

    EPCOR says it's important to act quickly and thaw your pipes. Freezing spreads further along the line over time, which makes it harder and slower to thaw. The longer a pipe stays frozen, the more likely it is to burst.

  4. Thaw with gentle heat only

    Never use a torch, lighter or any open flame to thaw a pipe. Keep hair dryers and heaters away from water.

    EPCOR suggests gentle heat from a hair dryer, space heater or heat lamp on a narrow pipe, kept away from water and anything that can burn. Don't try this in a tight space without room to move and fresh air.

  5. Watch for a burst

    As the pipe thaws, watch for water where it shouldn't be. If a pipe bursts, follow the burst pipe steps.

  6. Won't thaw? Get a pro

    EPCOR's advice: if you're not sure what to do, or the pipe won't thaw, contact a plumbing or heating company.

  7. Heat off in the house?

    If your furnace or heat pump breaks, the Insurance Bureau of Canada advises shutting off the water supply and draining the pipes. In a power outage, Alberta suggests turning off the main water supply and letting the taps drip slightly.

A white two-storey house and its yard covered in fresh snow, with snow-laden spruce trees.
A house after a heavy snowfall.

Frozen pipes signs in an Edmonton winter

The sign EPCOR names is no water, or just a trickle, from your taps.

Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1991 to 2020 normals for Edmonton put the January daily average at -10.3 °C and the January daily low at -14.7 °C. They also count about 24 nights a year below -20 °C.

Frozen pipes, exterior wall or crawl space

EPCOR points to the cold spots: basements and crawl spaces, especially where the water line enters the home. Outdoor hose taps can freeze and burst too, and EPCOR says that can cause water damage inside your home.

How to prevent frozen pipes from bursting

  • Keep your home heated at normal levels so there are no cold spots.
  • Let a tap drip. EPCOR says even a slow drip of hot or cold water can help prevent freezing.
  • Disconnect outdoor hoses and turn off the outdoor taps.
  • Keep EPCOR's curb stop valve clear. EPCOR needs to reach it in an emergency such as a frozen service line, and the property owner must keep it accessible.

Away for the winter? The Insurance Bureau of Canada says most policies exclude frozen pipe damage while a home is vacant.

Frozen pipes plumber near me: what a pro does

EPCOR thaws a frozen water service line, at the fee shown above. Inside the house, EPCOR's advice is to call a plumbing or heating company when a pipe won't thaw. The City of Edmonton says you don't need a permit to maintain an existing system that stays in the same location.

Frozen pipes and no water: sending a request

Call or use the form here, day or night. A local plumber will call you back as soon as possible. If this can't wait, call other plumbers too.

Renting? Tell your landlord or building manager now. They may have their own emergency line, and they may need to approve the work.

Questions

Can frozen pipes thaw on their own?

Don't count on it. EPCOR says freezing spreads further along the line over time, making it harder to thaw.

Can frozen pipes burst?

Yes. EPCOR warns that a pipe is more likely to burst the longer it stays frozen. Outdoor hose taps can burst too.

Frozen pipes: should I turn off the water?

If a pipe has burst, yes, at the main valve, if you can reach it dry. If your furnace breaks, the Insurance Bureau of Canada advises shutting off the water and draining the pipes. In a power outage, the Government of Alberta advises turning off the main water supply and letting the taps drip slightly.

Frozen pipes: leave the water running?

As prevention, yes. The Government of Canada suggests running a trickle of water when pipes can't be kept above freezing. EPCOR says even a slow drip helps.

Are frozen pipes an emergency?

A frozen water service line is. EPCOR names it as a water emergency and takes calls about it at 780-412-4500. A frozen pipe inside the house needs action too, because the longer it stays frozen, the more likely it is to burst.

Sources

Other problems

Areas we take requests from

Send a request

Prefer not to call? Send your details. A local plumber will call you back as soon as possible. If this can't wait, call other plumbers too.

We use your details to arrange a call back. See the privacy page.

Call 780-652-1462

Calls are answered by an automated assistant and transcribed.