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City of TorontoMetro master licence15791Request service

Frozen pipes

No water on a very cold morning usually means a frozen pipe. Here is how to thaw it safely, how to protect your home, and when to call us.

Call (416) 489-0000Request service
City of TorontoLicensed & insuredMetro master plumbing licence15791
1212 The Queensway, Etobicoke

A pipe may be frozen if

  • A tap gives no water or only a trickle in very cold weather
  • Only one area of the house has lost water
  • The problem started after an overnight deep freeze
  • Frost shows on a pipe near an outside wall or the water meter
Waterworks plumber fitting a valve on copper water lines in a basement

If you suspect a frozen pipe

  • Check pipes along outside walls and where the water pipe enters the foundation
  • Open the basement cold water tap so water can flow as the ice melts
  • Warm the pipe with a heating pad, hair dryer or warm towels, and never leave a heating device unattended
  • Never use a blowtorch, propane heater or open flame. The City calls these fire and carbon monoxide hazards

Thawing can take one to six hours. If you still have no water, call us at (416) 489-0000.

A frozen pipe can split

Ice can crack a pipe, and the leak may only start once the pipe thaws. Know where your main water valve is before you begin. If water sprays or drips when the pipe warms up, shut it off and see burst pipes.

Keep it from happening again

  • Insulate exposed pipes in basements, crawl spaces and garages
  • Seal drafts around windows, doors, vents and where pipes pass through walls
  • Keep areas with water pipes above 8°C, especially near the water meter
  • Open cabinet doors under sinks so warm air can reach the pipes
  • Disconnect hoses and drain outdoor faucets before the first hard freeze

If the same pipe keeps freezing, ask us to look at it.

This page covers frozen pipe repair.

We serve homes in Etobicoke, Mississauga, North York and nearby Toronto communities.

See the work

Watch Michael on the job

How to winterize an outdoor tap

Questions people ask

Who does the work

Michael from Waterworks in a finished shower

Waterworks is owned and run by Michael Yuffa, Owner and Chief Plumber, who has 46+ years of experience with Toronto homes, longer than most of the city's condos have been standing. About our team

  • Metro master plumbing licence 15791
  • WSIB Ontario workplace safety and insurance
  • Insured by Desjardins Insurance
  • Rated 4.8 from 551 Google reviews and 4.9 from 2,273 HomeStars reviews (October 2026)

Written from Waterworks’ service information and the sources named on this page. Last updated November 2, 2026.

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(416) 489-0000
Evenings and weekends
Phones answered. Overnight calls booked first thing in the morning.
Office
1212 The Queensway, Etobicoke, ON M8Z 1R8

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Residential plumbing & drains

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