Every January our phones light up with frozen and burst pipe calls from across Michigan — from {city:detroit-mi|Detroit} suburbs to the Upper Peninsula. Most are preventable. Here's the checklist we give homeowners every fall, plus what to do if a pipe freezes anyway.
Lines in exterior walls (kitchen sinks on outside walls are notorious), unheated crawl spaces and basements, garages with water lines to a laundry or bathroom, attics, and outdoor hose bibs that weren't drained. Vacant and seasonal properties — cottages up north — are the highest risk.
Disconnect and drain garden hoses; shut off and drain interior valves to hose bibs, or install frost-free hose bibs.
Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves; add heat tape on lines in very cold spots.
Seal drafts around rim joists, pipe penetrations and crawl space vents.
Keep the thermostat at 55°F or higher even when away.
Know where your main shutoff is and make sure it works.
Have vacant properties winterized — we offer this service across Michigan.
Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls. Let faucets on vulnerable lines drip — moving water freezes much more slowly. Keep garage doors closed.
Open the faucet it feeds. Apply gentle heat with a hair dryer or warm towels, working from the faucet back toward the frozen section. Never use a torch or open flame. If you can't find or reach the frozen spot, call us for frozen pipe thawing before it bursts.
Shut off the main water valve immediately. Turn off the water heater if it may run dry. Then call (888) 480-9811 for 24/7 burst pipe repair — Elite Plumbing and Heating MI responds across Michigan day and night.
If the same pipe freezes every winter, reroute it out of the exterior wall, add insulation and heat tape, or convert to PEX, which tolerates freezing far better than copper. Our repiping team does this regularly.
Exposed pipes can freeze when outdoor temperatures drop to around 20°F, faster with wind. Michigan sees many such nights.
Yes — moving water and relieved pressure both reduce the chance of a freeze and a burst.
Yes — we drain and winterize vacant and seasonal properties throughout Michigan.
Elite Plumbing and Heating MI serves every city in Michigan 24/7. Find your city or call (888) 480-9811.
24/7 emergency service · Same-day appointments · Upfront pricing
(888) 480-9811Request Service Online