Frozen pipe water damage in the Chicago suburbs shows up in waves. A cold snap like the January 2019 polar vortex drops temperatures well below zero for a few days, and the calls come in when things thaw and the split pipes start running.
The pipes that freeze are predictable: supply lines in exterior walls, lines running over an unheated garage, hose bibs that weren't shut off from inside, and plumbing in a crawl space or a three-season room. The ice itself isn't the leak you see. The split happens during the freeze, and the water flows once the ice melts.
When you find it, shut off the main water valve and kill power to any wet area. Don't use a torch to thaw a line.
Our crew extracts the water, removes wet ceiling drywall and insulation, and sets drying equipment. Frozen pipe damage often hits ceilings and walls on the main floor, not only the basement, so we trace moisture along the whole path. Wet blown-in insulation in a ceiling cavity is heavy and does not dry in place, so it comes out.
Many homeowner policies cover a sudden pipe burst in a heated home. We photograph and log everything for your adjuster. See burst pipe cleanup for how we handle the water side, and claim documentation for the paperwork.
