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Cold snaps and prevention

Frozen pipes: safe thawing, repair and prevention

No water at the tap during a cold snap? You probably have frozen pipes, and it pays to act fast: ice expands as it forms and can split the line, and the damage starts when it thaws. Our plumbers come out day and night to thaw the line safely, repair a split pipe and deal with the cause. Someone on our team answers right away and the price is confirmed before we head out.

Call now (438) 379-2352 Request a quote

A plumber answers day and night · RBQ licence 5881-1431-01 · CMMTQ member · Insured

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Pipe outlet caught in ice at the foot of a wall, in the snow

Why call us in a cold snap

Ice in a water line can split it from the inside. Here is why to call us rather than another plumber.

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  • A plumber within 60 minutes

    Our plumbers are on call at all times, holidays included, and one of them reaches you within 60 minutes.

  • Controlled thawing, never with a flame

    The plumber thaws the section in a controlled way and checks the line before turning the water back on, with no fire risk behind a wall.

  • Fixed on the first visit

    Our trucks are equipped to handle the emergency on the first visit. If there is a crack, the plumber repairs it and explains why that section froze.

  • Our own plumbers, work guaranteed

    Thawing and repairs are done by our team, with no subcontractor, and covered by a written guarantee on labour and parts.

A plumber answers day and night

Talk to a plumber

(438) 379-2352
  • Price confirmed before we head out
  • Someone on our team answers right away
  • RBQ licence 5881-1431-01
  • 5.0 out of 5 · 121 Google reviews

Is the freeze in your pipes or on the street side?

Before anything else, open the other taps in the house. The City of Montréal offers a simple rule: if water flows from another tap in the building, the private plumbing is probably the cause, and it’s a job for a plumbing company. If no tap gives any water at all, the problem likely sits in the pipes outside the building, and it should be reported to 311.

Either way, find the main water shut-off in the basement and clear the space around it: if a pipe splits, you will need to close it right away.

How do you thaw a frozen pipe safely?

Open the taps, warm up the room and heat the frozen section gently, never with a flame. The City of Montréal suggests these steps:

  1. Open all the taps, so water can run out as soon as the ice melts and the pressure can ease off.
  2. Heat the room to a higher temperature; the City recommends 24°C or more.
  3. Warm the frozen area with a hair dryer or by pointing a space heater at the frozen part of the pipe, starting from the side closest to the tap.
  4. Stay close and never let an electrical appliance come into contact with water.

Add one plumber’s rule to that list: no flame, ever. A torch can set insulation alight, scorch a joist or melt a plastic fitting, and a fire inside a wall isn’t always visible right away.

What to do if the pipe has burst

Ice takes up more room than water: when it forms inside a line, the pressure can split copper or push a fitting apart. The leak often only shows up once the ice melts. If you see water running, hear a hiss or notice a stain that keeps spreading:

  • close the main water shut-off;
  • cut the power to the area if water is getting near outlets, but only if you can reach the panel while standing somewhere dry;
  • take photos for your insurer;
  • call us: someone on our team answers right away.

Our page on water leaks explains what else you can do to limit the damage.

How our plumbers handle it

When thawing it yourself doesn’t work, when the frozen line is out of reach or when it has already split, we come out for frozen plumbing, day and night. Every call follows the same steps:

  1. The price first. On the phone, we go over the situation with you and confirm the price before we head out, with no obligation.
  2. Finding the ice. The plumber locates where the line is blocked, even inside a wall or a crawl space.
  3. Controlled thawing. The section is thawed without a flame, and the line is checked before the water goes back on.
  4. Repaired and explained. If there is a crack, the plumber repairs it and tells you why that section froze. You pay once the water is running again.

How much does it cost to thaw a pipe?

The price depends on where the ice is, how easy the line is to reach and whether a repair is needed. A line frozen along an open basement wall thaws faster than one inside a crawl space or behind a finished wall. If the ice has split the pipe, the damaged section also has to be replaced before the water is turned back on. If the freeze is on the street side, the City handles it, and the plumber will tell you so. We ask you a few questions on the phone and confirm the price before sending anyone.

  • The price is confirmed before we head out.
  • No obligation: you decide once you know the price.
  • Evenings, weekends and holidays included.
  • You pay once the water is back and the line has been checked.
Get my price by phone · (438) 379-2352

Lasting fixes for a pipe that freezes every winter

Most of the time, that pipe runs along a poorly insulated outside wall, crosses a crawl space or sits near a cold-air leak. Once the thaw is over, the plumber can suggest a lasting fix: insulating the line, moving it to the warm side of the house or replacing an old, weakened section.

Outdoor faucets are the other usual suspect. A frost-free outdoor faucet, with a shut-off valve you can reach from inside, keeps the faucet from freezing and cracking over the winter. This kind of work is best planned in the fall, at a time that suits you, well before the first hard freeze.

Plumber repairing the pipes under a kitchen sink

Preventing frozen pipes before the deep cold

A few simple steps, taken before the first cold snap, prevent most of these calls. The City of Montréal recommends several of them:

  • keep the area around the water entry at 10°C or warmer;
  • insulate the most exposed pipes, near outside walls, in crawl spaces, in the attic or in the garage, for example with foam sleeves;
  • shut off the supply to outdoor faucets and drain them before the first frost, after taking off the garden hoses;
  • seal air leaks in the house and the garage;
  • in extreme cold, leave the cabinet doors open under sinks and let a thin trickle of water run so it keeps moving through the pipes.

That last tip doesn’t apply everywhere: in Laval, a municipal by-law prohibits letting the water run to prevent freezing unless the City asks residents to. If you’re away for part of the winter, ask someone you trust to drop by regularly.

For any other urgent situation, start with our 24/7 emergency plumbing page.

Sources

Our process

Here is what happens after you call, day or night.

  1. Step 1

    You call

    We listen to what happened and how serious it is. The price is set on that call, before a plumber is sent. No obligation, and no hidden fees.

  2. Step 2

    We head out

    An RBQ-licensed plumber who is a CMMTQ member leaves for your address. The truck is stocked for the job, so the visit can be handled the first time.

  3. Step 3

    Fixed, and guaranteed

    The work follows RBQ standards. You pay once the problem is resolved, and you leave with a written guarantee on labour and parts.

No-obligation quote

Get your price before we head out

Tell us what you need in a few words. We call you back at the number you give to ask the right questions and confirm the price.

Want to add photos? Use the full form

  • The price is confirmed before we head out
  • No obligation on your part
  • RBQ-licensed company, CMMTQ member
5.0 out of 5 · 121 Google reviews Rating checked on October 14, 2026 Read the reviews on Google

An emergency? Don’t write, call: (438) 379-2352

What our clients say

5.0 out of 5 · 121 Google reviews Rating checked on October 14, 2026 Read the reviews on Google

  • “I had a wonderful experience with this plumber! He was extremely nice, kind, professional, and very respectful. He arrived quickly, worked efficiently, and fixed the issue much faster than I expected. I really appreciated his excellent service and positive attitude. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a reliable and professional plumber. Thank you so much! 🙏”

    Lena O. · Google

  • “The guys were amazing! Came in quick, same day actually, even on a Sunday. They did a fab job and my sink is working better than ever. Thanks team! 🫶🏻”

    Clari S. · Google

  • “I highly recommend Plomberie Pipemasters. When I called, they arrived promptly and fixed the leak quickly. They were professional and left the area clean and in order.”

    Annabelle H. · Google

Common questions about pipes freezing

(438) 379-2352
Can I use a torch or an open flame to thaw a pipe?

No, never. A flame can ignite the insulation or the framing behind the pipe, damage solder joints and start a fire you won't see right away. Use gentle heat, such as a hair dryer, and never let an electrical appliance touch water.

The water is back. Is everything fixed?

Not necessarily. A pipe that froze may have cracked without leaking while it was full of ice. Once the water is back, look over the thawed section and the walls around it. A puddle, a stain or a hissing sound points to a crack that needs a quick repair.

Do I call the City or a plumber?

In Montréal, if another tap in the building still has water, the freeze is probably in the private plumbing and you need a plumber. If no tap has any water, the problem is likely outside the building and the City asks you to report it to 311.

Why does the same pipe freeze every winter?

Most often it runs along a poorly insulated outside wall, through a crawl space or near a cold-air leak. Insulating the line, sealing the leak or rerouting the pipe solves it for good.

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