Outdoor Hose Bibs
A hose left on in fall holds water in the spigot. The pipe behind it splits inside the wall, and nobody sees it until spring.
Frozen Pipe Repair and Prevention in Aurora, Colorado
Emergency frozen pipe thawing, burst pipe repair, and winterization services for Aurora's harsh freeze-thaw climate.
Colorado's freeze-thaw cycles are hard on pipes, especially in Aurora homes built in the 1970s and 1980s. When temperatures drop, unprotected pipes can freeze and burst in hours. Two Bears Plumbing provides emergency frozen pipe thawing and burst pipe repair, plus winterization inspections to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Why Aurora Pipes Freeze
Aurora sits at 5,400 feet elevation with winter temperatures regularly dropping below 0°F. The daily freeze-thaw cycle - freezing at night, warming during the day - puts repeated stress on pipes. Water expands when it freezes, and that pressure has to go somewhere. If the pipe can't flex, it bursts.
The most vulnerable pipes in Aurora homes are in:
- Crawl spaces - unheated, exposed to ground-level cold
- Exterior walls - especially on north-facing walls with poor insulation
- Attics - above the insulation layer
- Garages - unheated spaces with water supply lines
- Uninsulated pipe runs - especially older copper pipe without insulation
Emergency Frozen Pipe Response
Not sure? Here's how to tell if your pipes are frozen. If you think they are, call (720) 903-1527 immediately. Time matters - a frozen pipe that hasn't burst yet can be saved. A pipe that's been frozen for hours is at high risk of bursting.
We arrive fast, locate the frozen section, and use professional thawing equipment to safely restore flow. If the pipe has already burst, we contain the damage, make the repair, and check the rest of your home for other vulnerable pipes.
Winterization Services
Prevention is cheaper than repair. For a full breakdown of what to expect, read our guide on frozen pipe repair costs in Aurora. Our winterization inspection covers:
- Checking pipe insulation in crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls
- Installing heat tape on vulnerable pipe runs
- Adding insulation where needed
- Testing outdoor faucets and hose bibs
- Inspecting water heater for cold-weather readiness
- Recommending thermostat settings to prevent freezing
We recommend scheduling winterization before the first hard freeze, typically October or November in Aurora.
Heat Tape Installation
For pipes that can't be relocated or fully insulated, heat tape is a permanent solution. Electrical heat tape wraps around the pipe and provides gentle warmth when temperatures drop. It's thermostatically controlled - it only turns on when the pipe temperature drops to freezing.
We install heat tape on copper, PEX, and CPVC pipes in crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls. It's an affordable investment that prevents thousands in burst pipe damage.
How Freezing Actually Breaks a Pipe
A frozen pipe does not always burst where the ice is. Ice grows inside the pipe and pushes water ahead of it. That water has nowhere to go if a faucet is shut, so pressure builds between the ice and the closed fixture. The pipe splits there, often a few feet from the ice itself.
Then comes the part that surprises people. The split can sit hidden until the ice melts. Water starts moving again and sprays from a crack you could not see an hour ago. That is why we tell customers to open a faucet, watch the line while it thaws, and keep the main valve in reach.
Outside the house, the numbers are just as plain. Aurora's own design criteria list a frost depth of 36 inches and a winter design temperature of 1 degree Fahrenheit. A service line buried shallower than that is at risk, and so is anything that runs through an unheated space inside.
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Where We Find Frozen Pipes in Aurora
Most freeze calls come from the same handful of spots.
Kitchen and Bath Sinks on North Walls
The supply lines sit against cold sheathing with little insulation. The sink on the north wall is often the first to stop.
Crawl Spaces
Open vents, missing insulation, or a rim joist gap lets wind blow across the pipes. We see this a lot in 1960s and 1970s homes.
Garages and Utility Rooms
Washer hookups and water heater lines in unheated garages freeze on the first deep cold snap.
Vacant Homes
A house with the heat turned down or off has no margin. One cold night can freeze a line and nobody is home to notice.
Water Heater Lines in Attics and Closets
Lines that run above the insulation layer or along an outside wall take the most abuse.
What a Thaw Call Looks Like
Here is how we work a frozen pipe call, from the first visit to the last check.
Finding the Ice+
We start with the symptoms. Which fixtures have no water? Which have a trickle? That tells us which branch is frozen. Then we trace it. On an accessible pipe we can usually find the frozen section by touch and by sight. Inside a wall or ceiling, we use a thermal camera to see where the pipe runs cold, so we cut drywall only if we have to.
Thawing It Safely+
We use professional electric thawing equipment and gentle, controlled heat on accessible runs. We keep a faucet open so melting water has an exit. We never use an open flame on a pipe. That is how houses burn down, and it is also how soldered joints fail.
Checking for Splits+
Once water flows, we look for cracks, bulges, and weeping fittings. We watch the line under pressure. A pipe that froze once has been stretched, and a hairline split may only show when water runs through it.
Preventing a Repeat+
We look at why it froze. A missing section of insulation, a gap in the wall, a vent that stays open. If the same pipe will freeze again next cold snap, thawing it is only half the job. We tell you what will keep it from happening again, and you decide.
Don't Do This
We get calls from people who made things worse. A few mistakes come up over and over.
- Do not use a torch, a propane heater, or any open flame. It scorches framing and can crack the pipe.
- Do not pour boiling water on a pipe. Fast heat can split a cold pipe.
- Do not leave the water running full tilt on a frozen line and walk away. If the pipe cracked, you have a flood.
- Do not wait it out. The temperature may rise, but the pipe may already be split. Check it.
- Do not forget the main valve. If you do not know where it is, find it today.
If a Pipe Has Already Burst
Shut off the main water valve first. Then open faucets to drain what is left in the lines. If the break is on a hot water line, turn off the water heater so it does not fire on an empty tank. Move belongings, soak up water with towels or a wet-dry vacuum, and take photos for your records.
Then call us at (720) 903-1527. Tell us where the water is coming from, what the pipe is made of, and that the main is off. We can bring the right fittings on the first trip. Our emergency response runs 24 hours Monday through Friday, and our guides on signs your pipes are frozen and what an emergency plumber visit costs help you plan. See our emergency plumber page for how we handle active leaks.
Insulation, Heat Tape, or Rerouting
We choose the fix based on the pipe, not on what is easiest to sell.
- Insulation works when the pipe sits in a cold space but still gets some house heat. Foam sleeves on accessible runs cost little and do real work. Seal air gaps around them. Insulation slows heat loss. It does not make heat.
- Heat tape works on pipes that cannot be moved or fully covered. It has to be installed per the manufacturer's directions, with no overlap, and it needs a thermostat and a safe outlet.
- Rerouting is the permanent fix for a line that keeps freezing. Moving a supply line out of an exterior wall or crawl space and into the heated envelope solves it for good.
On a few calls the answer is all three. A pipe in a crawl space might get a reroute at the worst section, heat tape on a stretch we cannot move, and insulation on the rest.
After the Thaw: Watch for Slow Leaks
A pipe that froze can leak weeks later. Joints loosen, a fitting weeps, a hairline crack opens under pressure. If your water bill jumps after a cold snap, or you see a stain on a ceiling or a damp spot on a wall, call us. We can use leak detection to find a slow leak before it ruins drywall or flooring.
Leaving Town in Winter
Empty houses freeze. Nobody hears the first drip, and nobody shuts the valve. If you travel, leave the heat on at 55 or higher and open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls. Ask someone you trust to walk through every few days. If you will be gone a long time, shutting off the main and draining the lines is the safest move. We can show you how, and we can set up the shutoff so it is easy to find and easy to turn.
How to Get Your Pipes Through the Winter
Do a few things before the cold hits.
- Disconnect and drain hoses, and shut off the interior valve to outdoor spigots if you have one.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls on cold nights.
- Let at-risk faucets drip on nights near 20 degrees.
- Keep the thermostat at 55 or higher if you travel. Our winterization guide has the full list.
- Locate and test your main water valve now.
If you are not sure which pipes in your home are at risk, we can walk through the house and tell you.
Call (720) 903-1527 for frozen pipe repair or winterization in Aurora.
What's Included
✓Emergency frozen pipe thawing
✓Burst pipe repair from freeze damage
✓Pipe insulation installation
✓Seasonal winterization inspections
✓Heat tape installation for vulnerable pipes
✓Crawl space and attic pipe protection
Our Work
Frozen Pipe Repair FAQ
How do I know if my pipes are frozen?+
Signs include no water coming from faucets, only a trickle of water, frost visible on exposed pipes, and unusual sounds when you turn on faucets. If you suspect frozen pipes, call us immediately - the longer you wait, the higher the risk of a burst.Read our guide to telling if your pipes are frozen →
Can I thaw frozen pipes myself?+
You can try gentle warming with a hair dryer or warm towels on exposed, accessible pipes. Never use an open flame. But if the frozen section is inside a wall, crawl space, or attic, call a professional. Improper thawing can cause a burst.Read our guide to thawing pipes, or what to do if one bursts →
How much does frozen pipe repair cost?+
Thawing a frozen pipe typically costs $150 to $800, depending on whether the pipe is exposed, inside a wall, or the main water line. If the pipe has already burst, repair runs $250 to $3,000 depending on location and damage. We provide upfront pricing before starting any work.Read our frozen pipe repair cost guide for Aurora →
How do I winterize my plumbing in Aurora?+
Disconnect and drain your outdoor hoses first. Then wrap exposed pipes in at least R-3 insulation and seal cold air leaks along exterior walls. Keep the thermostat at 55 degrees or higher when you're away, and let at-risk faucets drip on nights below 20 degrees.Read our full guide to winterizing your plumbing in Aurora →
Should I Shut Off The Water If My Pipes Are Frozen?+
You should shut off the main water valve if a pipe has split, or if you see water, a bulge, or a crack. If the pipe is only frozen and still intact, leave a faucet open so pressure has somewhere to go, and call us. Know where your main valve is before winter. Valves that sit for years can seize.
Why Do Pipes Burst After They Thaw?+
Pipes burst after they thaw because the split was already there. Ice stretches the pipe and cracks it, but the ice plug holds the water back. When it melts, water flows through the crack. Open the faucet, watch the line as it thaws, and keep the main valve within reach.
Should I Leave My Faucets Dripping In Cold Weather?+
You should leave a faucet dripping on nights when lows fall near 20 degrees, especially on a line that runs through an exterior wall or crawl space. A thin steady stream keeps water moving and relieves pressure. Open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls too, so house heat reaches the pipes.
How Do I Find The Frozen Section Of My Pipe?+
You find the frozen section by following the pipe from the fixture with no water back toward where it runs through the coldest space. Look for frost, a pipe that feels colder than the rest, or a bulge. If it runs inside a wall or under a slab, we find it with a thermal camera so we do not open drywall to guess.
Need Frozen Pipe Repair Help?
Call now for same-day service. Upfront pricing, no hidden fees.
Call (720) 903-1527