Fort Collins · Larimer County
Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair in Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins gets arctic cold snaps when temperatures drop well below zero for days, often with wind.
First: In a freeze, shut off the main and open a faucet before the pipe thaws; a split pipe leaks hardest as it warms.
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Fort Collins burst & frozen pipe repair: call now
(833) 615-1180Do this first
In a freeze, shut off the main and open a faucet before the pipe thaws; a split pipe leaks hardest as it warms.
Call right away if: a frozen pipe that has split or is dripping as it thaws; water coming through a basement ceiling or wall; sewage backing up through a basement floor drain.
Pick what's happening in your Fort Collins home
Pipe frozen, not leaking yet
Do now
- Find and test the main shutoff before the pipe thaws.
- Crack open the faucet on that line so thawing water can flow out.
- Warm the section with a hair dryer or a space heater kept at a safe distance.
Avoid
- No torches or lighters on a frozen pipe; they start fires inside walls.
- Don't leave a heater running unattended in a crawl space or garage.
Call: If you can't reach the frozen section, or several fixtures have no water.
Full step-by-step guideBurst pipe or leak you can't stop
Do now
- Close the main shutoff; in a basement home it's usually where the line enters through the foundation.
- Cut the breaker to any circuit with water near it.
- Open a basement laundry tub or the lowest faucet to drain the lines.
Avoid
- Stay out of standing water until the power to that area is off.
- Don't turn the water back on to test the repair yourself.
Call: Now, while the main is closed: the fix is faster before drywall and carpet soak through.
Full step-by-step guideComing home to a leak after being away
Do now
- Close the main shutoff before walking through the house.
- Turn off power to any room with water near outlets.
- Photograph everything before moving anything.
Avoid
- Don't turn the water back on until the source is found and repaired.
Call: Right away: leaks in an empty house have usually spread further than they look.
Full step-by-step guideLocal conditions
Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair in Fort Collins: what's different here
Fort Collins gets arctic cold snaps when temperatures drop well below zero for days, often with wind. Pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces, garages and unheated basements are the ones that freeze, along with hose bibs that weren't disconnected in fall.
A frozen pipe often doesn't leak until it thaws, so the damage shows up when temperatures rise. If a faucet runs to a trickle during a cold snap, open it, keep heat in the space, and use a hair dryer on the exposed section; never an open flame.
If a pipe bursts, close the main shutoff, usually in the basement where the line enters the house, and call. Fort Collins Utilities can shut off service at the curb if the house valve won't close.
If it happens in Fort Collins: the likely cause and the first move
- 1. Local condition
Fort Collins has hard freezes and large day-to-night temperature swings.
- 2. Risk to the home
Pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and unheated garages freeze on the coldest nights.
- 3. What goes wrong
A split pipe that floods when it thaws, often the next afternoon.
- 4. What to do
Close the main at the first sign of water; keep cabinet doors open on exterior walls in a cold snap.
Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair: the full guide
More on burst & frozen pipe repair: signs, steps and costs.
Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair questions from Fort Collins homeowners
Where do pipes usually freeze in Fort Collins homes?
Exterior walls, crawl spaces, garages, unheated basements and outdoor spigots.
Are frost-free hose bibs safe from freezing?
Only if the hose is disconnected so the valve can drain; a connected hose traps water.
Can Fort Collins Utilities shut my water off?
They can close the curb valve if you can't close the house shutoff.
Service area
Burst & Frozen Pipe Repair near Fort Collins
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Emergency Leak Repair
Emergency leak repair stops water that's actively escaping, from a failed supply line, a cracked fitting, a leaking valve or a split pipe, and makes a permanent repair so water can be turned back on.
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Whole-House Repiping
Repiping replaces a home's water supply lines, usually failing galvanized steel, polybutylene or pitted copper, with new PEX or copper, restoring pressure and removing the risk of repeated leaks.
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Backflow Testing & Sprinkler Plumbing
Backflow testing checks that the backflow preventer on your irrigation system stops sprinkler water from flowing back into drinking water.
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Need burst & frozen pipe repair in Fort Collins?
Sub-zero cold snaps, exterior walls, crawlspaces, garages, hose bibs.