Signs a pipe has frozen
- One tap dry or barely trickling while the rest flow.
- Rime on a bare pipe in the garage or crawlspace.
- A cistern that stays empty after a flush.
- The outdoor tap line in the basement feels ice-cold.
Why pipes freeze in Mississauga homes
Lines in exterior walls, over garages, in unheated crawlspaces and in bump-out kitchens are the usual spots. Wind off the lake finds gaps in older siding and around rim joists. Outside taps with a hose still screwed on can freeze back into the house.
How we thaw it safely
- We find the frozen section by feel and by checking which fixtures still flow.
- The affected tap is opened so melting ice has somewhere to go.
- Gentle heat is applied, starting at the open tap and moving back to the ice plug.
- Once flow returns, we inspect for splits, bulges or seeping fittings.
- We suggest insulation or rerouting to stop it happening again.
What moves the bill
A frozen pipe in an open basement is quick. One inside a finished exterior wall may need a small access hole. Where the freeze has cracked the line open, the job becomes a burst pipe repair.
Worth asking
Ask whether the line can be insulated, moved to a warmer wall or fitted with a frost-free outdoor tap. Ask which other pipes share the same cold run.
What callers want to know
Should I keep the tap dripping in cold snaps?
A slow drip on a vulnerable line can help, and opening cabinet doors lets warm room air reach the pipes.
Can I wait for it to thaw on its own?
It may, but the risk is a split that leaks once the ice melts. Watch closely and shut off the main if water appears.