Oof — frozen pipes in Florida is a special kind of “this isn’t supposed to happen here” problem.

Good news: you can still prevent a burst if you act quickly.

First: Check if any pipes have already burst

Look for:

• Water stains on ceilings or walls

• Puddles under sinks or near exterior walls

• Hissing/dripping sounds behind walls

• Sudden drop in water pressure

If you see active leaking → shut off the main water valve immediately.

🧊 If pipes are frozen but NOT burst

Your goal is to thaw them slowly and safely.

1️⃣ Turn on the faucet

Open both hot and cold on the affected fixture. Running water (even a trickle) helps melt ice and relieves pressure.

2️⃣ Find the frozen section

Most common spots in Florida homes:

• Exterior walls

• Pipes in attics

• Garage walls

• Under sinks on outside walls

• Hose bib/spigot lines

3️⃣ Apply gentle heat

Use one of these only:

• Hair dryer

• Heating pad

• Space heater (kept away from water)

• Warm towels wrapped around the pipe

👉 Start heating closest to the faucet, then work back toward the colder area.

🚫 Never use:

• Open flames

• Propane torches

• Heat guns on high(Fire risk + pipe damage)

💧 As it thaws

You may hear water start to flow. That’s good.Keep heat on the pipe until full water pressure returns.

❗ If a pipe bursts while thawing

1. Shut off main water immediately

2. Turn off electricity to affected area if water is near outlets

3. Call a plumber ASAP

4. Start drying the area (fans, towels) to limit mold

🌙 Tonight & future freezes

After this scare:

• Leave cabinet doors open under sinks

• Let faucets drip during hard freezes

• Cover exterior spigots

• Disconnect hoses

• Insulate exposed attic/garage pipes

Florida homes aren’t built for deep freezes, so even one cold night can do it.

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