Frozen Pipe Thawing & Repair in Toronto & the GTA
Toronto & the GTA • Call 647-784-8448
A frozen pipe is on a clock. The water expanding inside the line is what cracks it, and most freeze-related bursts happen during or right after thawing. Tornado Plumbing & Drains thaws frozen lines safely across Toronto and the GTA, repairs any burst section, and recommends specific insulation or relocation work for lines that are likely to freeze again next winter.
Last updated April 24, 2026
When this service makes sense
Part of Emergency Plumbing in Toronto & the GTA
Book this service when
Book this when a tap has stopped running in cold weather, a line in an exterior wall, garage, attic or crawlspace has frozen, or a pipe has already split after thawing.
Common signs
- Supply lines in exterior walls.
- Outdoor hose bibs without frost-free design.
- Lines in unheated garages, attics, or crawlspaces.
- Basement supply runs near foundation cracks or vents.
If you're not sure, compare these too
- Burst Pipe Repair - when the pipe has already cracked during thaw
- Outdoor Faucet & Frost-Free Hose Bib - when the freeze is at an exterior tap every winter
On this page
Quick guide and key details
What changes price and scope
- Whether the frozen line can be reached easily.
- Whether thawing is enough or the pipe has also burst.
- Whether prevention work is added during the same visit.
- How many runs are frozen.
How a professional visit usually unfolds
1. Locate the freeze
Trace the line and find where the ice plug is. Thawing the wrong section wastes time.
2. Open a faucet downstream
Give expanding water a path out as the line thaws. Reduces pressure that could split the pipe.
3. Apply controlled heat
Use a heat gun, heat tape, or warm-water blanket — never an open flame. Safe thawing without damaging the pipe or surrounding finishes.
4. Pressure / leak check
Watch the line as it thaws and pressure-test once flow is restored. Catches a hidden burst before walls close up.
5. Prevent the next freeze
Insulate, reroute, or replace freeze-prone lines as needed. Stops next winter's emergency from being the same call.
Recent Frozen Pipe Thawing & Repair work
These real project photos show the kind of work this service involves, so you can see examples before you book.
Winter emergency plumbing jobsite with trucks and excavation equipment
This winter jobsite photo helps emergency-service pages show what a real response looks like when the problem cannot wait and outdoor access, weather, and urgency all affect scope.
Frozen pipe pricing (Toronto 2026)
| Service | Starting from | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen pipe thawing (no burst) | $270 | $270 to $600 |
| Frozen pipe thawing + burst repair | $450 | $450 to $1,200 |
| Frost-free hose bib replacement | $300 | $300 to $700 |
| Pipe insulation / freeze prevention | $180 | $180 to $500 |
Ranges are for planning and triage. Final pricing depends on access, urgency, materials, and whether the visit stays isolated once the area is opened.
Cities Where This Service Is a Strong Fit
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Burst pipe repair in Toronto & the GTA: we stop the water, cut out the split copper or PEX, and replace it from $360. Book online or call 647-784-8448.
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Licensed, insured, reviewed Toronto plumbers
- Serving Toronto & the GTA since 2015 — over 1,200 completed jobs.
- Master plumber T95-4969603 · Plumbing contractor T94-4992639 · Drain contractor T87-4722944 · Building renovator T85-4728632 · Plumbing license FI6216638.
- 4.9-star Google rating from 320+ reviews. 400+ HomeStars reviews (Best of 2019–2025). BBB-accredited.
- Same-day and after-hours dispatch across Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, York, Mississauga, and Burlington.
25-year workmanship warranty
Every job Tornado Plumbing & Drains completes in Toronto and the GTA — repair, install, replacement, drain work, sewer work, fixture work — is backed by a 25-year workmanship warranty. The written terms are provided with every quote. If our work fails within 25 years of the install date, we come back and make it right.
Why frozen pipes need a plumber, not a heat gun
An open faucet that has gone to a trickle or stopped entirely usually means ice has formed in a run you cannot see, often inside an exterior wall, a crawlspace, or where copper crosses an uninsulated rim joist. We trace the frozen section from the line's layout and surface temperature, thaw it with controlled heat so the ice melts evenly instead of trapping pressure between two plugs, and watch the joints as flow returns to catch a split the moment it shows. If a section has already cracked, we isolate it, repair or replace the pipe, and flag the cold spot that caused it so the same line does not freeze again in January.
Call now if:
- A faucet or fixture has stopped flowing during cold weather.
- Pipes in an unheated basement, garage, or crawlspace are cold to the touch and not flowing.
- Frost is visible on a supply pipe.
- A line was frozen and now you see leaking as it thaws.
- An exterior hose bib has frozen and is leaking inside the wall.
- The home was unoccupied during a deep freeze.
Common freeze-prone locations
- Supply lines in exterior walls.
- Outdoor hose bibs without frost-free design.
- Lines in unheated garages, attics, or crawlspaces.
- Basement supply runs near foundation cracks or vents.
- Vacant rentals or seasonal properties with low heat.
- Pipes that recently froze and are likely to freeze again.
What's included
- Thermal imaging and a hands-on check of the run to confirm exactly where the ice plug sits before any heat is applied
- Controlled thawing with heat blankets or directed steam — never an open flame near framing — melting the plug gradually so pressure isn't trapped behind it
- Watching every joint and fitting as water returns to catch any split or weeping seam the instant flow comes back
- Repairing or replacing any copper or PEX section that has already cracked or burst from the freeze
- A written prevention plan for the line that froze: insulation, heat tape, a frost-free hose bib, or rerouting the run out of the unheated space
- Pressure-checking the repaired line and cleaning up the work area before we leave
- A written 25-year workmanship warranty on every repair we make
Frozen pipe service cost: what affects the quote
Pricing depends on whether the line can be reached easily, whether thawing is enough or the pipe also burst, and whether prevention work is part of the visit. A single accessible freeze on copper that thaws cleanly stays in the lower range. A burst inside a wall after thaw, or multiple frozen runs, pushes higher.
When thawing is only step one
If the line bursts during thaw, the repair becomes a burst pipe job. If a line freezes every winter, thawing it again next year is the wrong fix — the right answer is insulation, rerouting, or replacing the run with one that does not sit in an unheated space. For homes that go unoccupied in winter, the conversation usually includes shut-off and drain-down planning.
What to share when you call
- Which fixture stopped flowing.
- How cold it has been and where the home stayed coldest.
- Whether you can hear water dripping in a wall (sign of a burst).
- Pipe material and approximate location if known.
- Whether the home was unoccupied during the freeze.
- Photos of frosted pipe, leak, or affected area.
Prevent the next freeze
Keep heat above 13°C in unoccupied homes during winter. Drain exterior hose bibs before the first freeze. Insulate supply lines in unheated spaces. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls during cold snaps. Replace standard hose bibs with frost-free models on freeze-prone exterior lines.
Toronto context
Frozen pipes in Toronto concentrate in three locations — exterior wall supply lines (kitchen sinks on outside walls, second-floor bathrooms above an unheated garage), rim joist runs in older basements with poor air seal, and outdoor hose bibs that weren't shut off in fall. Safe thawing is heat blanket, controlled steam, or directed warm-air — not open flame.
What to confirm before approving frozen pipe work
- The technician should pressure-test after thaw to catch hidden bursts.
- Freeze-prone lines should be insulated or rerouted, not just thawed and left.
- Quotes should separate thawing, repair, and prevention work.
Useful info on the call: which fixture stopped flowing, where the home is coldest, and whether you have heard dripping in a wall.
Frequently asked questions
Can I thaw a frozen pipe myself?
Hair dryers and warm towels on accessible lines can work. Never use an open flame. If the pipe is inside a wall, in a crawlspace, or you suspect it has already burst, call before you turn the water back on.
How do I know if a frozen pipe has burst?
If you hear water dripping in a wall, see a stain spreading, or notice low pressure once the line thaws, the pipe likely burst. Shut off the water and call right away.
Why does the same pipe keep freezing every winter?
Lines that freeze repeatedly are usually in exterior walls, unheated spaces, or near vents. Insulation alone may not be enough; sometimes the line needs to be rerouted to a heated chase.
How can I prepare an unoccupied home for winter?
Maintain a minimum heat setting, shut off and drain exterior lines, and consider draining the system if the property will be empty for an extended period in deep cold.
Related services
Frozen Pipe Thawing & Repair: real customer reviews
What customers say about our frozen pipe thawing & repair work, in their own words, straight from their Google reviews.
Karyn pope
December 2021“I can not say enough great stuff about our dealings with this company from the first phone call and consultation, to fitting us in the same day due to our own work constraints, to the quality of the work performed. Peter’s servicing of a most difficult drainage problem, was extremely knowledgeable, calm, patient, determined and persistent in solving our issues. His work was clean and tidy and respectful of our property. From start to finish this company was a true delight to use and pricing was very fair. I highly recommend them.”
Most relevant to Emergency Plumbing Service in Toronto & the GTA.
Google place photo: Tornado Plumbing & DrainsRob Azzam
April 2026“A true FIVE STAR service from Sergiy at Tornado Plumbing! We needed an urgent service, he came same day, did a great job, left a clean area behind him, and all at very competitive pricing!! Very reasonable and great service. Thank you!!! We will be calling you again!”
Most relevant to Emergency Plumbing Service in Toronto & the GTA.
Google place photo: Tornado Plumbing & DrainsShu Pui Lui
May 2022“I am very happy with Peter and Naz's work replacing part of my pipe that was causing the blockage. They came on the same day I called them and the work was done by end of the following day. The area they had to dig was tricky between a tree and interlock but they made an effort to avoid taking my interlock apart which saved me from more repair work. The quote was fair and Peter is professional and trustworthy. I highly recommend them.”
Most relevant to Emergency Plumbing Service in Toronto & the GTA.
Google place photo: Tornado Plumbing & DrainsAuthoritative sources for this service
Public references — City of Toronto programs, federal guidelines, and standards bodies — used for the rules and figures cited on this page.
- City of Toronto — Priority Lead Water Service Replacement Program(city)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada — Toronto precipitation data(federal)
- City of Toronto — Combined sewers and basement flooding(city)
- IICRC S500 — Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration(standard)
- Insurance Bureau of Canada — Water damage and flooding statistics(industry)
- Ontario One Call — locate before you dig(regulator)
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Fast answers before you call
Can I thaw a frozen pipe myself?
Hair dryers and warm towels on accessible lines can work. Never use an open flame. If the pipe is inside a wall, in a crawlspace, or you suspect it has...
How do I know if a frozen pipe has burst?
If you hear water dripping in a wall, see a stain spreading, or notice low pressure once the line thaws, the pipe likely burst. Shut off the water and call...
Why does the same pipe keep freezing every winter?
Lines that freeze repeatedly are usually in exterior walls, unheated spaces, or near vents. Insulation alone may not be enough; sometimes the line needs to be rerouted to a heated...
How can I prepare an unoccupied home for winter?
Maintain a minimum heat setting, shut off and drain exterior lines, and consider draining the system if the property will be empty for an extended period in deep cold.
Pipe frozen with no water flow? Don't use a torch — call.
Open the affected tap, locate your main shutoff in case the pipe has already split, and call 647-784-8448. Open flame on a frozen pipe is a fire and burst risk. Tornado uses heat blankets, controlled steam, and thermal imaging to thaw safely. Same-day across Toronto and the GTA.