Leave the faucet open, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, and warm the space with a space heater set well back from anything that burns. Never use an open flame. If the line does not thaw in an hour, or you see a split, close the main and call.
Signs you need frozen pipe thawing
- One faucet or the whole house has no water after a freeze
- Frost on an exposed pipe under the house
- A toilet that will not refill
- Strange whistling or gurgling when you open a tap
- Water flowing again but a new wet spot appears
How we handle it
- Find the frozen sectionWe trace the line from the dry fixture back to the coldest point, often an outside wall or a crawl space vent.
- Thaw with controlled heatHeat tape, warm air and pipe thawing equipment, never a torch on a frozen pipe.
- Check before pressureBefore the full supply pressure returns, we look and listen for splits that the ice was holding closed.
- Stop the repeatInsulation, vent covers, heat cable or rerouting the run keeps the same pipe from freezing next time.
What frozen pipe thawing usually costs around Greenville
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Thaw a frozen line, accessible | $165 to $345 |
| Thaw plus split repair | $315 to $715 |
| Heat cable on a problem run | $215 to $485 |
Ranges reflect common jobs in Greenville and nearby towns. Access, materials and the hour of the call change the final number, and you get an exact price before work starts. Compare prices across all services.
What you can do before we arrive
A hair dryer on low, moved back and forth along the frozen section starting closest to the open faucet, is a reasonable first step on an exposed pipe. Keep the faucet open so meltwater has somewhere to go, and stop if you see the pipe bulge or split.
What we see in Upstate homes
The few hard freezes Greenville gets each winter catch a lot of homes at once, especially older houses with open foundation vents and newer homes with laundry rooms on outside walls. Belton and the rural parts of Anderson County see it on well houses and the exposed pipe where a well line enters the home. We stage parts and thawing gear before a forecasted freeze so calls move quickly.
Keeping it from coming back
Know which pipes froze and protect them before the next cold snap: foam sleeves, a vent cover, a heat lamp in a well house, or a slow drip on the coldest nights.
Questions about frozen pipe thawing
Should I turn the main water off if a pipe is frozen?
If you can see a split or water starting to leak, yes. If the pipe is simply frozen and intact, keep the faucet open while it thaws so meltwater can move.
Can I use a hair dryer on a frozen pipe?
A hair dryer on low, kept moving and away from water, is a reasonable first step on an exposed pipe. Never use a torch or open flame.
How do I know if the pipe burst?
Once it thaws, a split usually shows up as spraying or dripping water. We check under pressure so you do not find it the hard way.
Areas we cover for frozen pipe thawing
Plumbcraft sends frozen pipe thawing crews from Greenville and Belton across the Upstate.