The faucet only trickled this morning, and now the wall is wet
Frozen pipe water damage is what happens when ice blocks a supply line, expands, splits the pipe, and then releases water the moment it melts. In Uniondale, NY, a pipe can sit frozen and silent for hours, so the flooding often starts after the house warms up or the temperature rises. This is an emergency, the 24/7 line is open, and the first job is to stop the water.
If a faucet has slowed to a trickle in cold weather, shut the main valve before the pipe thaws. Keep people out of any room where water is near outlets or the panel, and call the utility or 911 before us if there is an electrical or gas concern.
Why the thaw is the dangerous moment
Ice acts like a plug. While it holds, the split in the pipe stays sealed and nothing leaks, so the damage is waiting rather than happening. As the ice melts, pressure returns to the line and water pushes out through the crack, sometimes in a spray, inside a wall or ceiling where nobody is looking.
That is why a house can seem fine at breakfast and flooded by dinner. If you suspect a frozen line, do not use a torch or open flame to thaw it. Shut the main valve first, then call a licensed plumber and the restoration line.
When a frozen pipe is an emergency
Treat any frozen line as an emergency if it feeds a wall, a ceiling or a floor you cannot see. Same-day response when available applies to these calls, and the after-hours line is staffed on winter nights, weekends and holidays, when most freezes happen. A split that is already leaking needs extraction and drying immediately.
While you wait, close the main valve and open a low faucet to relieve pressure. Move anything valuable off wet floors, and keep pets out of standing water. Do not turn on electrical equipment in a wet room.
- Water is dripping from a ceiling or light fixture
- A wall feels cold and damp, or the paint is bubbling
- The meter runs with everything off
- Water is coming from a garage or crawl space ceiling
- Several faucets are running slow at once
Where Long Island pipes freeze first
Long Island has four seasons, and winter freezes are a regular part of them. In Uniondale, NY, lines most at risk run through exterior walls, unheated garages, crawl spaces and attic knee walls, where a drafty gap can chill a pipe faster than the heat reaches it.
Flat suburban lots with detached garages and north-facing kitchen or bath walls are typical trouble spots. If a pipe in a crawl space or foundation space has frozen, the guide on crawl space water damage explains what pooled water does below the floor.
Slow drips and quiet warning signs
Not every frozen pipe bursts right away. A slow drip can run for days in an unheated space before it shows as a stain, and by then insulation and framing are wet.
- A faucet that runs slow or stops in cold weather
- Frost on an exposed pipe in a garage or basement
- A bulge or crack in the line
- A new brown ring on a ceiling below a bathroom
- A damp smell in a closet against an outside wall
- Sound of dripping inside the wall after the weather warms
What the crew does once the pipe has thawed
The crew starts by confirming the source is shut, then extracts any standing water with wet vacuums or portable extraction units. Moisture meters and a thermal imaging camera show how far the water moved. Baseboards come off and small holes or a cut section of drywall allow air movers and a dehumidifier to reach the wall cavity.
Because the split pipe often sits inside a finished wall, the repair connects with wall and drywall water damage repair after drying. If the pipe was a pressurized line that has fully burst, the process matches the one for burst pipe water damage.
Water is spreading right now? The dispatch line is open around the clock.
☎ (516) 845-9582Dry the wall or replace it
Frozen pipe water is usually clean, which makes drying in place realistic when the leak is caught early. Replacement makes more sense when insulation is saturated, drywall has swollen, or the leak ran for days in a closed cavity.
| Condition found | Likely plan | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Small leak, caught within hours | Dry in place with air movers | Readings that stay high on day two |
| Wet insulation in a wall cavity | Open the wall and replace insulation | Hidden damp on the far side |
| Garage ceiling or crawl space soaked | Extract, dry framing, open as needed | Standing water below the floor |
| Swollen or soft drywall | Cut out and replace the section | Paint bubbling again after repair |
| Leak ran for days unseen | Full assessment and likely removal | Musty smell or surface growth |
Drying equipment runs until readings return to normal, as described under structural drying and dehumidification.
What affects the price of frozen pipe restoration
One split pipe can wet a single closet or an entire floor, so no two jobs look alike. These are the factors that decide scope: Crews that follow ANSI/IICRC S500 record moisture readings at the start and again at the end, which gives you a record to share with your insurer.
- Water category: frozen pipe water is usually category 1, but it can degrade if it sits
- Affected area: how many walls, rooms and floors got wet
- Materials involved: insulation, drywall, flooring and finished ceilings
- Drying days and equipment: air movers, dehumidifiers and monitoring visits
- Rebuild scope: cutouts and replacement after drying
The plumber's pipe repair is billed separately from restoration. To get a real number for your property, call the 24/7 line and describe what you see.
Insurance and documentation after a freeze
Check your policy and ask your insurer how it treats pipe freezing and water damage, since wording varies. File promptly, and document your losses before cleaning with photos, video and an inventory. Keep damaged materials until the insurer has seen them if you can.
Emergency steps to protect health and safety are allowed, so save receipts for water shutoff, extraction and temporary repairs. Save the rebuild for after the adjuster's visit. Moisture readings from the crew can support your claim file.
Who we dispatch and what a plumber must do
We dispatch licensed and insured restoration professionals to homes and businesses in the 11553, 11555 and 11556 ZIP codes, as well as nearby Westbury, Hempstead and Garden City. The service area page shows where crews work.
We do not repair or replace the split pipe, because a licensed plumber does that. The plumber may also recommend insulation or heat tape for lines in exterior walls and garages, which helps prevent a repeat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle frozen pipe emergencies at night or on weekends in Uniondale?
Yes. The dispatch line is open 24/7, and winter nights and weekends are when many freezes happen. We do not promise a set arrival time, but same-day response when available is the standard. Shut the main valve and call the line while the water is still contained.
Why did the damage show up only after the ice melted?
The ice plugged the split, so no water escaped while it was frozen. When it melted and pressure returned, water poured out of the crack. This is why a pipe can look fine for hours and then flood a wall.
My kitchen faucet is only dripping and the wall near it feels cold. Should I worry?
Yes. A slow flow in freezing weather suggests ice somewhere in the line, and a cold wall means the pipe is exposed. Close the main valve before it thaws and call a plumber. If the wall turns damp or the paint bubbles, call the 24/7 line.
Can I thaw a frozen pipe myself?
Only with caution. Never use a torch or open flame. A hair dryer on a low setting works on an accessible pipe, but if the pipe is inside a wall, leave it to a plumber. Keep the main valve closed until the pipe is checked for splits.
Are garages and crawl spaces more likely to freeze in Uniondale?
Yes. Unheated garages, crawl spaces and exterior walls lose heat first, and Long Island winter freezes reach lines there more easily than interior plumbing. If a pipe splits in one of those spaces, the damage can spread to the finished room above.
Will the wall have to be opened?
Sometimes. The crew reads moisture and uses a thermal imaging camera to decide. If insulation is wet or the leak ran a long time, the wall is opened to dry it properly. Small holes or removed baseboard are often enough for early catches.