Freezing nights across the Treasure Valley
Frozen and Burst Pipes in Eagle, ID
Frozen pipe repair in Eagle starts when a tap runs dry on a freezing morning or a wall gets wet after a thaw. Call (208) 781-4118 because ice can split a pipe and the water pours out once it melts.
Warning signs
- No water, or only a trickle, from one tap on a freezing morning
- Frost on an exposed pipe, or a pipe that looks swollen
- A tap that works for a moment and then stops
- Sudden running water, or a wet wall or ceiling, after a thaw
- A pipe or outdoor faucet that has cracked or is dripping
Common causes
- Pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces, garages and attics
- Pipes with no insulation, or with gaps in the insulation
- A garden hose left on an outdoor faucet
- Cold air coming through cracks and holes near water lines
- Heat turned down or off in a room that holds pipes
Checks you can do yourself
- Open the tap on the frozen line a little, so water can move as the ice melts and pressure can escape.
- Open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so room air can reach the pipes.
- Keep the heat at 55 degrees F or higher, even in rooms you do not use.
- Find the main shutoff valve now and confirm everyone in the house can close it.
Get help right away if
- A pipe has split or water is leaking where a pipe was frozen
- Water is coming through a wall or ceiling. Close the main valve first.
- There is no water anywhere in the house and you cannot find the cold spot
- Someone suggests thawing a pipe with a torch or any open flame. Do not.
What a visit covers
- You call (208) 781-4118, say which tap is dry or where the wet spot is, so the contractor can plan a visit.
- Find the frozen section by checking exposed pipes, crawl spaces, garages and exterior walls.
- Thaw the pipe with safe heat and check the pipe for splits as the water starts flowing.
- Repair or replace any section that split.
- Look for why it froze, such as missing insulation, air gaps or an outdoor faucet.
- Talk through insulation, frost-resistant faucets and shutoff valves for next winter.
Valley specifics
At the Boise Airport station, NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show a low at or below 32 degrees F on 25.2 days in an average December and 25.5 in January. Lows at or below 20 degrees occur on 9.2 December days and 7.5 January days, and at or below 0 degrees on 0.9 days a year.
A National Weather Service Boise paper counts 29 times since 1962 that Boise fell below zero. Of those, 22 were arctic outbreaks and 20 of the outbreaks came in December and January. Another NWS Boise paper lists -25 degrees on December 22, 1990, as the lowest minimum among the cold events it studied from 1977 to 1992.
The City of Eagle Water Department lists a water emergency line of 208-994-9443. Garden City's Water Division lists Public Works at 208-472-2949 for water concerns. A burst pipe inside your own walls is your plumber's job, not the utility's.
Common questions
How urgent is a frozen or burst pipe?
Rate it from 1 to 10. At eight to ten on your number out of ten, when a pipe splits, water pours through a wall or ceiling, or no water runs anywhere. Close the main valve first, then call (208) 781-4118 now. At 4 to 7, one tap with a trickle or frost on a pipe, open the tap slightly, keep the room warm and call this week. At 1 to 3, a cold night with no symptoms, open cabinet doors under sinks. Never use a flame to thaw a pipe.
Is it safe to thaw a frozen pipe myself?
Open the tap and keep the room warm, and never use a torch or any open flame. The National Weather Service warns against torches on frozen pipes. If you cannot see or reach the frozen section, or water is already leaking, close the main valve and call.
Should I let faucets drip in a cold snap?
The National Weather Service advises leaving taps on a slow drip when very cold temperatures are expected. An open faucet also relieves pressure that builds between the ice and the faucet. Focus on lines that run through exterior walls, garages or crawl spaces.
What do winters look like for pipes in the Treasure Valley?
At the Boise Airport station, NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show about 108 days a year with a low at or below 32 degrees F and 0.9 days a year at or below 0 degrees. NWS Boise has documented arctic outbreaks that took Boise below zero, most of them in December and January.
Does this cover Star and Garden City too?
Yes. Freeze repair reaches Star and Garden City as well as Eagle. Call (208) 781-4118 and name your town.
What to have ready
Have your address, the room or fixture, when the trouble began and whether the water is off. Add the age of the heater or the home if you know it. For tenants, the property owner is the first call. Homes in Eagle, Star and Garden City are covered, so call (208) 781-4118 because those details let the contractor plan the visit.