Busted pipes from Frozen Water lines

Busted pipes from Frozen Water lines

Frozen pipes will likely result in busted pipes

One of the most common time for a pipe to bust is in cold weather. When the temperature drops outside and there’s water in the pipe,  it will freeze and the expansion along with the pressure will result in busted pipes. One other reason why you may have busted pipes is by not disconnecting your garden hose. If the water in the hose is frozen, then there’s pressure being trapped which will result in busted pipes. 

I’m no stranger when it comes to this situation, I had to repair one recently. This is after getting a couple quotes from local plumbers who were ready to charge up to $400 to remove a busted pipe  and install a new one.

We have the PEX plumbing system and our setup with a mix of copper pipe and PEX pipes. For some homes, it may just be all copper. Either way, the concept of repair is similar.  

Now what’s ironic is that we have a freeze-less inlet wall faucet  which is designed to prevent the pipes from rupturing during freezing temperatures. This protects up to 125 psi of back pressure, but ONLY effective if the valve is shut off and the hose is removed.  That was the mistake we made.  Below was the one we installed at our home, but there are many different versions and sizes available.

Woodford 17CP-6-MH Model 17 Wall Faucet, 6-Inch, CP Inlet, Metal Handle

busted pipes

Starting the job...

One thing to keep in mind is the PEX connector is made of plastic and can break if tightening too much. I would recommend tightening with your hand and if needed, maybe one or two turns with a wrench. 

After we were able to remove the pipe, we rushed to Lowes and picked up the same exact wall faucet for about $35. I also grabbed some Teflon tape and outdoor stainless screws. The Teflon tape was to prevent any leaking on both pipe and facet. You can simply wrap a thin piece once or twice around the threading.

Frozen pipes busted.
Busted Pipe revealed
Picked up the pipe replacement.
Picked up the replacement, screws and Teflon

The wall faucet, you can find them at any hardware shop and is easy to install. We did NOT have the hassle of cutting and soldering the copper pipes which saves a lot of time. That alone makes it worth the money. Not to mention how much the plumbers would have charged.

The installation took about 15 to 20 minutes. This includes ensuring the water outside was running and nothing was leaking inside the home. 

The rubber ring washer for the water pipe installation.

Don't Forget

One thing to note is that when we reconnected the pipes, there was water leaking since the rubber ring washer was not installed. So before you panic, make sure this is not missing between the connectors.

Make sure you enter the washer where shown.

Prevent Frozen Pipes

There are several ways to protect your pipes from freezing:

  • Insulate pipes that are most susceptible to freezing. You can do it yourself – pipe insulation is sold at most hardware stores – or you can hire a professional.
  • Wrap vulnerable pipes with heating cable or heating tape, also available at most hardware stores.
  • Leave your faucets on at a trickle. The steady stream of moving water will make it difficult to freeze.
  • Keep cabinets that contain pipes open so that the heat of the room reaches them as well.
  • Detach garden hoses from outdoor faucets.
  • If you go away for a few days, keep the heat on in the house at 50 degrees.

Last Words

In this situation, it was very simple to fix and that is because I’m comfortable with these type of projects. For some folks who are not, seeking a professional is not a bad idea. Either way, hopefully, you will benefit from preventing this from happening again or ever happening. 

Things that might be of interest to you

IWISS PEX Clamp Cinch Tool Crimping Tool Crimper for Stainless Steel Clamps from 3/8"to 1" with 1/2" 20PCS and 3/4" 10PCS SS PEX Clamps
Frozen pipe crimping tool.
Happybuy 1/2 Inch PEX Tubing Potable Water Tube 2 Rolls X 100 FT PEX-B Plumbing Pipe Non-Barrier Coil for Water Plumbing Open Loop Radiant Hydronic Heating Systems (1/2" Non-Barrier, 2x100Ft/Red+Blue)
PEX Tubing for replacement.
Woodford 14CP-6-NCV-MH Model 14 Wall Faucet, 6-Inch, CP Inlet, No Check Valve, Metal Handle
Replacement for busted pipes.
Woodford 30CP-6 Model 30 Wall Faucet, 6-Inch, CP Inlet
Wall faucet metal handle.

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