# Frozen Pipe Burst: What to Do First | Water Damage Lansing

> Frozen pipe burst: what to do first. Shut off the main, cut power to wet areas, drain the lines, document for insurance, and how to thaw other frozen pipes safely in a Michigan cold snap.

URL: https://waterdamagelansing.com/guide/frozen-pipe-burst-what-to-do/

Shut off the main water valve immediately, turn off power to any wet area, then open faucets to drain the remaining water and relieve pressure. Move belongings out of the water, photograph the damage and the split pipe, call a plumber for the pipe, and start water removal and drying the same day.

[Water Damage Lansing](/) is a water damage restoration company serving Lansing, MI, where January averages 23.4°F and every cold snap brings burst pipes. January 2026 was a bad one: Mid-Michigan plumbers reported pipes bursting, broken water lines, and furnaces that failed, froze, and flooded whole houses. If a frozen pipe just burst, here's what to do first.

## 1. Shut off the main water valve

This is the one step that matters most. A split supply line can release **hundreds of gallons an hour**. In most Lansing-area homes, the main is in the basement where the water line enters, near the meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If you can't find it or it won't turn, your water utility can shut it at the curb stop.

## 2. Cut power to wet areas

If water is near outlets, light fixtures, or a ceiling with lights, turn those circuits off at the panel, but only if you can reach it without standing in water.

## 3. Drain the lines

Open cold faucets throughout the house, starting at the top floor, to drain remaining water and relieve pressure. Flush toilets once.

## 4. Protect and document

- Move furniture, electronics, and papers out of the water.
- Put buckets under drips. **Stay out from under sagging ceilings**, since wet drywall can fall.
- Photograph the split pipe, the water, and every damaged area before cleanup. Keep the damaged pipe section if the plumber removes it. See [what to photograph](/guide/water-damage-insurance-claim-photos/).

## 5. Call a plumber and a restoration company

The plumber repairs the pipe. Water removal and drying should start the same day, because mold can begin within **24–48 hours**, and water that ran inside a wall or ceiling won't dry on its own. See [burst pipe water damage cleanup](/burst-pipe-water-damage-lansing-mi/).

## If other pipes are still frozen

- Keep the faucet open so melting water can flow out.
- Warm the pipe with a **hair dryer, heating pad, or space heater** at a safe distance. **Never use a torch or open flame.**
- Work from the faucet end back toward the frozen section.
- If you can't find or reach the frozen section, call a plumber.

## Where Lansing pipes freeze

Exterior walls, especially under kitchen sinks, crawl spaces, unheated garages, basement rim joists, and outdoor hose bibs. Manufactured homes were hit hardest in January 2026, where gaps in skirting let cold air reach plumbing underneath.

## Preventing the next one

- Keep the heat at **55°F or higher**, even when you're away.
- Open sink cabinets on exterior walls during cold snaps.
- Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor faucets in fall.
- Insulate pipes in crawl spaces and garages.
- If the home will be empty, shut off and drain the water. Many policies exclude freeze damage in vacant, unheated homes.

## FAQ

**Where is my main water shutoff?**

In most Lansing-area homes, it's in the basement where the water line comes through the foundation wall, usually near the water meter. Find it and tag it before winter.

**Can I thaw a frozen pipe with a torch?**

No. Open flames on pipes start house fires. Use a hair dryer, heating pad, or space heater kept at a safe distance, and never leave a heater unattended.

**Does insurance cover a frozen pipe burst?**

Usually, as sudden water damage. Many policies exclude freeze damage if the home was vacant or unheated and the water wasn't shut off and drained.