Frozen Pipes Burst? What to Do First in Laurel, MD

Few things are worse on a January morning than hearing water running inside a wall. When frozen pipes burst in Laurel, water can soak a ceiling, a finished basement and the floors below in minutes. If that's happening now, Laurel Dry Pros handles burst pipe water damage cleanup in Laurel, from extraction to drying. Here's what to do first, and how to keep it from happening again.

This guide is general information, not plumbing, legal or insurance advice. Every home and policy is different.

What to do in the first 15 minutes

1. Shut off the main water valve. In most Laurel homes it's in the basement or utility room, where the water line comes through the front wall. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops.
2. Open the faucets. Open the lowest faucet in the house to drain the lines and take pressure off the broken pipe.
3. Cut power to wet areas. If water is near outlets, lights or the electrical panel, switch off those circuits only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
4. Move what you can. Lift rugs, electronics, papers and furniture out of the water's path.
5. Catch drips. Put buckets under ceiling leaks. If a ceiling is bulging, keep people out of the room.
6. Take photos and video. Capture the broken pipe, the water and every damaged room before cleanup.
7. Call for help. You'll need a plumber for the pipe and a water damage company for the cleanup.

Why do frozen pipes burst?

Water expands as it turns to ice. When a pipe freezes, the ice plug traps water between it and a closed faucet. As more ice forms, pressure builds in that trapped section until the pipe splits. That's why the break often isn't where the ice is.

Many leaks show up the day the weather warms. The ice held the crack shut. When it melts, water flows out through the split at full house pressure.

How do you know if your pipes are frozen?

Watch for these signs during a cold snap:

• A faucet gives only a trickle, or nothing, when you turn it on
• Frost or ice on a visible pipe under a sink or in a crawl space
• A toilet that won't refill
• Odd smells from a drain, since gases can't vent past the ice
• A bulge or crack in an exposed pipe

The most common spots are pipes on outside walls, in garages, in crawl spaces, under kitchen sinks on outside walls and near hose bibs.

How to thaw a frozen pipe safely

If a pipe is frozen but not broken, you can often thaw it yourself. The American Red Cross recommends these steps:

1. Keep the faucet open. As the ice melts, running water helps melt the rest and shows you when flow is back.
2. Apply gentle heat. Use an electric heating pad, a hair dryer, a space heater kept away from anything that can burn, or towels soaked in hot water.
3. Never use an open flame. No blowtorch, propane heater, kerosene heater or charcoal stove.
4. Heat until full pressure returns. Then check other faucets in the house for more frozen spots.
5. Call a licensed plumber if you can't find the frozen section, can't reach it or can't thaw it.

Frozen pipe vs. burst pipe: what's the difference?

What happens to your home after a pipe bursts

A burst supply line can release several gallons a minute. That water runs inside wall cavities, along floor framing and through ceilings. Drywall wicks it upward. Carpet pad soaks it up. Hardwood starts to cup.

The clock matters because the EPA says wet materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold. After that, mold can start on drywall paper, wood and carpet backing. Our guide on how long mold takes to grow explains the timeline.

Is a burst pipe covered by insurance in Maryland?

Often, but not always. Sudden and accidental water damage from a burst pipe is commonly covered by a homeowners policy. The Maryland Insurance Administration notes that many policies won't pay to repair or replace the pipe itself, only the damage it caused.

Claims can also be denied if the home was left unheated or the leak was slow and long-term. If you travel in winter, keep the heat on. For the full picture, read does homeowners insurance cover water damage in Maryland.

How to prevent frozen pipes in Laurel

Maryland winters bring stretches of hard freezes. These steps lower your risk:

• Keep the heat steady. The Red Cross advises keeping the thermostat at the same setting day and night during extreme cold.
• Never set it below 55°F if you'll be away, and ask someone to check the house.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
• Drip faucets fed by exposed pipes on the coldest nights.
• Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage.
• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outside spigots before the first freeze.
• Insulate pipes in crawl spaces, attics and garages with foam sleeves or heat tape rated for the job.
• Seal drafts around pipes where they pass through outside walls.
• Know your main shutoff and make sure it turns.

Local note: Homes on crawl spaces in Beltsville and older houses with pipes in outside walls in Silver Spring are among the most likely to freeze. Townhome owners in Odenton and Fort Meade should know that a burst line can soak a shared wall. In Bowie, many Belair-era homes have plumbing near outside walls.

Related reading: If the leak came from the tank instead of a pipe, see what to do when your water heater is leaking. If water reached the ceiling below, read our guide to water damage on the ceiling.

When should you call a water damage professional?

Call a pro when:

• Water ran inside a wall or ceiling, even briefly
• A ceiling is stained, bulging or dripping
• Carpet, pad or hardwood got wet
• Water reached a lower floor or basement
• You smell must or see spots in the days after the leak
• You can't tell how far the water spread

Frozen pipe burst in Laurel? Call (301) 368-0221 to reach Laurel Dry Pros. We'll extract the water, trace it with moisture meters and dry your home.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. American Red Cross: Winter storm safety and frozen pipes
2. American Red Cross (Tennessee): Prevent frozen pipes and how to thaw them
3. Maryland Insurance Administration: Water damage, what your homeowners policy covers
4. U.S. EPA: Mold Cleanup in Your Home