Water and drain service
Burst pipe and frozen pipe repair in NYC
A frozen line in a cold snap, a burst pipe flooding a basement. We thaw safely, repair or replace the pipe, and stop it happening again, 24/7 in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan.
What we do on a burst or frozen pipe call
First stop the water, then fix the pipe, then deal with why it froze.
Emergency shutoff
We talk you through closing the main on the phone, and replace a main shutoff that will not close while we are there.
Safe thawing
Frozen lines thawed with controlled heat, never an open flame. We open a tap downstream so the ice has somewhere to go.
Pipe repair and replacement
Split copper, cracked fittings and burst galvanized pipe cut out and replaced. Press, solder or PEX as the location calls for.
Damage control
Water heater, boiler and electrical checked after a flood before anything is turned back on.
Freeze prevention
Pipe insulation, heat tape where appropriate, rerouting lines out of exterior walls and unheated spaces.
Documentation
Photos and a written report for your insurance claim.
Why pipes freeze in NYC houses, and where
It is rarely the main house plumbing. It is the line to the outside spigot that was not shut off, the pipe in the garage or crawlspace, the supply running through an exterior wall behind a kitchen cabinet, the vacant apartment where the heat was turned down to save money, or the basement where a window was left open. A cold snap of two or three nights below 20°F is enough.
A frozen pipe is an emergency before it bursts. Ice expands, and the split happens at the weakest point, often somewhere you cannot see. If a tap stops running in cold weather, close the main, open the tap, and call. Thawing it before it splits is a short visit; a burst is a long night.
Our winter checklist covers freeze prevention for the whole house.
If a pipe has burst
- Close the main water shutoff
- Open a low tap to drain pressure
- Turn off the water heater and boiler if water reached them
- Kill electricity to flooded areas at the panel if safe
- Photograph the damage before cleanup
- Call; we are on the way
Burst and frozen pipe repair by borough
Same-day and scheduled service in every neighborhood we serve.
Brooklyn
ZIP codes 11201–11256
- Williamsburg
- Greenpoint
- DUMBO
- Brooklyn Heights
- Cobble Hill
- Carroll Gardens
- Red Hook
- Park Slope
Queens
ZIP codes 11004–11697
- Astoria
- Long Island City
- Sunnyside
- Woodside
- Jackson Heights
- Elmhurst
- Corona
- Flushing
Staten Island
ZIP codes 10301–10314
- St. George
- Tompkinsville
- Stapleton
- New Brighton
- West Brighton
- Port Richmond
- Westerleigh
- Clifton
Manhattan
ZIP codes 10001–10282
- Financial District
- Battery Park City
- Tribeca
- SoHo
- Chinatown
- Lower East Side
- East Village
- Greenwich Village
Questions
A pipe burst and water is everywhere. What do I do first?
Close the main water shutoff, usually where the water line enters the basement or near the meter. Then call us. If you cannot find or turn the valve, we will guide you by phone and send a plumber immediately.
Can you thaw frozen pipes?
Yes, safely, with controlled heat and a tap open downstream. Never use an open flame on a pipe. Call as soon as a tap stops running in cold weather, before the pipe splits.
How do I keep pipes from freezing?
Insulate pipes in unheated spaces, shut off and drain outdoor spigots, keep vacant units above 55°F, seal drafts near plumbing, and let a tap on an exterior wall drip during a deep freeze.
Do you repair burst pipes at night and on weekends?
Yes. Burst pipes are 24/7 emergency calls in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan.
Related: Emergency plumber · Leak detection · Repiping