How to Know If Your Pipes Are Frozen

It’s a bitterly cold night, and the house is silent, except for the low hum of the furnace and the wind pressing against the windows. Instinctively, you get up and twist open the bathroom faucet — nothing. Then, a spooky hissing sound emanates from the pipes, followed by a deep, echoing groan. Even the uninitiated recognize it. Your pipes are frozen.

Frozen pipes are more than a winter inconvenience — they’re a significant warning sign that a burst could be imminent. Across Colorado — from Denver and Boulder to the high mountain towns — temperatures drop fast, and cold winds test every pipe in the house. Each winter, Colorado homeowners discover too late that frozen pipes can burst without warning, necessitating water damage cleanup services. 

In this article, we’ll break down how to know if your pipes are frozen — and what to do before it’s too late.

For Homeowners Living in Cold Winter Temperatures 

This blog is for anyone facing the silent panic of frozen pipes — especially:

• Homeowners who wake up to find faucets that have suddenly stopped flowing.
• Renters who hear hissing or groaning behind the walls.
• Property managers responsible for keeping older buildings safe during cold snaps.
• Seasonal homeowners returning to mountain or rural properties after a deep freeze.
• Anyone living in colder regions of Colorado, where single-digit temperatures and high winds can freeze pipes overnight.

Knowing when and why your pipes might freeze will help you avoid the mess and distress of actual frozen pipes. 

The First Signs of Frozen Pipes

Before a pipe ever bursts, it whispers its warning — sometimes as silence, sometimes as a hiss behind the wall. The signs below will help you recognize when your pipes are frozen and what’s happening inside your walls before damage begins.

No Water Coming from the Faucet

You turn the handle, and instead of a steady stream, there’s a hollow hiss — or nothing at all. This is often the first and clearest sign of a frozen pipe. When water can’t move through the line, ice has likely formed somewhere along the route, blocking the flow. Before assuming it’s a city issue, check multiple faucets. Here’s a general rule of thumb. If all the taps in your house run dry, your main water line is likely frozen. If it’s local to a single tap, you can check around the tap to find the frozen portion. Act quickly — pressure behind ice can split a pipe, leading to serious water damage cleanup when it thaws.       

Frost or Condensation on Pipes

If you see white frost or beads of moisture forming on exposed pipes — especially in basements, garages, or crawl spaces — the line is likely freezing inside. The water is literally freezing inside the pipe and expanding. At this point, don’t heat the pipes too quickly, because the temperature difference can cause the pipes to burst. If the pipes feel icy cold or look frosted over, shut off the main water supply. 

Unusual Noises in the Plumbing

This is how ghost stories get started! Frozen pipes groan, pop, or whistle. The sounds might fade as pressure builds, but they serve as a signal to act quickly. Those noises are the pipe’s way of telling you it’s under stress — and could crack if ignored. Be sure space heaters are positioned safely.

What to Do Right Away to Thaw Frozen Pipes

If you’ve discovered signs of frozen pipes, act quickly but stay calm. There are some simple steps to save your pipes from freezing and bursting.

Turn Off the Main Water Valve

The moment you suspect a frozen pipe, locate and shut off your home’s main water supply. The main water line carries water from the source (well or city/town water supply) to your house with a lot of pressure that pushes the water through. Shutting off the supply to your house stops the pressure that can cause your pipes to burst. The main water valve can sometimes be hard to find, especially in older homes. However, it’s usually near the water meter or where the main pipe enters the house.

Warm Pipes Slowly

Use a hair dryer, heating pad, or space heater to thaw frozen sections gently. Apply the heat back and forth and evenly along the pipe — never concentrate it in one spot, and never use an open flame. Warming the pipe too quickly can create a temperature shock strong enough to make it burst. Slow, steady heat is your safest approach.

Call for Professional Help

If the pipe has already burst or you notice water pooling, call Advanced 24/7 Restoration right away. Their certified team can shut off the flow, dry affected areas, and perform complete water damage cleanup before mold or structural problems begin. It’s always better to bring in experts early — a quick call can save thousands in repairs later.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Pipes generally will freeze at 20°F, but technically, they can freeze at 32°F. Frozen pipes can be avoided. When it comes to costly damage, adopting a few simple habits can help you prevent it in the future.

• Insulate exposed pipes and use foam sleeves or heat tape on plumbing in basements, attics, and garages to prevent freezing.
• Sealing gaps and cracks around windows, doors, and foundation walls prevents cold air from entering.
• Let faucets drip, especially during extreme cold; a slow trickle keeps water moving and reduces the risk of freezing.
• Keep heat steady by maintaining your thermostat at the same temperature day and night — at least 55°F, even if you’re away.
• Disconnect hoses and drain outdoor lines, including garden hoses, sprinkler systems, and exterior spigots that freeze quickly.
• Add a smart safeguard. Install a smart thermostat or water-leak sensor to receive alerts before problems arise.

Simple steps now mean fewer emergencies — and no need for midnight water damage cleanup later.

Frozen Water Pipes Emergency Services in Denver

Pipes freeze in cold Colorado winters. The winds cut through the foothills, and the heavy air from the Front Range wraps exposed pipes in ice. If you catch freezing pipes before they burst, you can save yourself from costly cleanup and extensive plumbing repairs later.

However, sometimes you just don’t notice the basement pipes slowly freezing, or you’re not at home, and a pipe bursts. If that’s the case, you’ll need emergency water cleanup services. Advanced 24/7 Restoration responds to water crises at any time, day or night. Send us a message or call us directly at (720) 722-4777. We’re here to help you with your water damage emergency.