Matthews, NC · Frozen, split and broken pipes
Frozen pipe repair in Matthews, NC: what to do when a pipe splits or bursts
Water spraying from a wall, a ceiling stain growing by the minute or no water after a freeze? Shut the water off first, then call (833) 571-0120.
A plumber finds the failed section, repairs or replaces it and tells you whether the rest of the line is worth worrying about.
Frozen, split or burst: tell which one you have
The first move changes with the situation, and the wrong move can make a frozen pipe worse. Match what you see to the row below.
| What you see | Safe first move | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Water spraying or pouring from a pipe | Close the master shutoff valve, then open the lowest faucet to drain the lines | Standing in water near outlets or the panel |
| No water from one or more taps in freezing weather | Open the tap slightly and look for a frozen section in an unheated space | Using an electric heater or hair dryer on the pipe |
| A bulge, frost or a hairline split on a pipe | Shut off the water and call before the thaw, which is when it leaks | Assuming it is fine because nothing is dripping |
| A damp spot that keeps spreading, no spray | Shut off the water and photograph it | Waiting to see if it dries |
Charlotte Water’s guidance is to shut off the home’s master valve, which it says is on the house side of the meter, inside the house. If there is no master valve, the account holder can ask Charlotte Water to shut the water off at the meter at 311 or 704-336-7600.
Most frozen pipe repair Matthews homeowners call about begins the same way: the main shutoff is closed, someone looks at where the pipe split, and only then is the section replaced.
Thawing a frozen pipe without making it worse
Charlotte Water’s tips for a pipe that has frozen are short and worth following exactly.
- Open the affected faucet slightly so melting ice has somewhere to go.
- Wrap the frozen section in towels soaked in hot water.
- Do not use electrical appliances such as heaters or blow dryers to thaw a pipe.
- Check the rest of the run for splits while the water flows again, and keep the master valve within reach.
If the pipe is behind a wall or under a floor, or if water starts flowing where it should not, stop and call. A frozen pipe that has already split looks fine until it thaws. If the thaw leaves water in the house, drying out the affected rooms is the next call.
Why pipes split in the cold corners of a Matthews house
Charlotte Water says to take precautions when temperatures stay below 32 degrees. Its list points at the usual weak spots: unheated areas such as crawl spaces, and a water heater in a garage with the door left open.
As an orientation to timing, WCNC reports Charlotte’s average first freeze falls around November 8, drawing on records back to 1878. That is an average, and a hard freeze can come earlier or later.
- Insulate pipes in crawl spaces and seal openings that let cold air in.
- Keep the garage door closed if the water heater is out there.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so room heat reaches the pipes.
- Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor spigots before a freeze.
Outdoor spigots are covered on the faucet and hose bib repair page. A leak that appears with no freeze at all usually points to a worn pipe, which is a different problem.
Repair a section or replace the run?
One split from a hard freeze is a repair. Several leaks in a short time, or a pipe that is old and brittle, is a different decision.
The median Matthews home was built in 1991, per a UNC Charlotte Urban Institute housing assessment, and polybutylene supply pipe went into homes from about 1978 to 1995, a period WRAL covered during the class-action settlement. A burst in that window is a reason to find out what your pipe is made of.
Ask the plumber to identify the supply material and to say whether the failure looks isolated. If it does not, replacing the supply piping costs less over time than repairing each failure.
Supply pipe materials and how each tends to fail
Different supply pipes fail in different ways. Knowing what you have helps you judge whether one burst is bad luck or a pattern.
| Pipe | How it tends to fail | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Pinhole leaks from the inside, or a split after a hard freeze | Whether the wall has more than one pinhole |
| Galvanized steel | Corrodes inside and restricts flow before it leaks | Whether the whole line is the same age |
| CPVC | Becomes brittle with age and can crack at fittings | Whether fittings or the pipe cracked |
| PEX | Tolerates freezing better than rigid pipe, but fittings can still fail | Which fitting type was used |
| Polybutylene | Failed at fittings in many homes built in the 1978 to 1995 window | Whether any is still in the house |
The plumber can tell you which of these you have when the pipe is open. Ask for it to be written on the invoice, so the next owner or the next plumber knows too.
What the plumber should leave you with
A repair call is not finished when the water comes back on. Before the plumber leaves, you should have the following.
- A note of what failed and where, with a photo if the pipe is closed back up.
- A pressure check after the repair to show the new joints hold.
- A clear statement on whether the rest of the run looks sound.
- The location of the master shutoff valve, pointed out to you.
- Any permit question answered: whether the work needs one and who files it.
Ask also whether the repair is permanent or temporary. A temporary coupling that holds in a wall is not a plan.
Who pays for the water that ran?
If water ran through a failed pipe on your side of the meter, the bill is yours. Charlotte Water says customers are responsible for repairs and water use from leaks beyond the meter outlet. It also has a private-side leak adjustment, so ask about it once the repair is done.
Photograph the break, keep the removed section if you can and save the plumber’s written note. Your insurer may ask for them, and so may Charlotte Water.
Water off and a pipe still dripping? Call and describe the pipe.
Call (833) 571-0120Stopping the water is the first job and drying is the second. Wet drywall, insulation and flooring hold moisture after the pipe is repaired, and wet materials left in place can lead to mold. Water damage restoration here means removal and drying, and rebuilding is separate work. If water has spread past the room where the pipe split, call for drying as soon as the pipe is repaired.
Burst pipes in shops, offices and rentals
A burst line in a business is a shutoff problem first. Know where the master valve is, tell the property manager and keep customers out of wet areas.
If you lease, the lease decides who calls the plumber. Repairs on shared risers or main lines are usually the landlord’s decision. For ongoing building care, see commercial plumbing for Matthews businesses, and for a hidden or slow leak see finding the source of a leak.