24/7 emergency · Kelowna & area
Frozen & burst pipe repair in Kelowna
A pipe that freezes in a cold snap can split and start leaking the moment it thaws. We are open 24/7, stop the water, repair the damaged pipe and show you what is likely to freeze again.
Anderson Plumbing and Gas Fitting · owner-operated · last updated
Quick answer
For frozen or burst pipe repair in Kelowna, call Anderson Plumbing and Gas Fitting at (250) 859-3548. We are open 24/7. Shut off your main water valve first. We thaw the frozen section, repair split pipe and show you which runs need protecting.
Kelowna doesn't get cold often, which is exactly why pipes get caught out when it does. The BC Building Code designs heating in Kelowna for −17°C, and the area has gone well past that: Environment Canada recorded a preliminary −29°C in Kelowna on December 22, 2022. Pipes in outside walls, crawlspaces, garages and unheated rooms are the ones that freeze.
Water expands as it freezes, and the pressure builds between the ice and the closed tap. That's why a pipe often splits in the cold but only starts pouring when it thaws. If a tap slows to a trickle on a cold morning, treat it as frozen and act before it thaws on its own.
When we talk, we walk you through the first steps on the phone: where your main shut-off is and what to turn off. Then we find the frozen or split section, stop the water, repair it, and point out anything else likely to freeze again.
Dealing with this right now? Frozen or burst pipe: what to do first
Where pipes freeze, and where to shut the water off
- 1Main shut-off. Usually where the water line comes into the house, often a basement or utility room wall on the street side. Find it before you need it.
- 2Hose bibs. Disconnect hoses in the fall. A hose left on traps water and can split even a frost-free tap inside the wall.
- 3Outside walls. Pipes in exterior walls, especially under kitchen sinks, freeze first. Open the cabinet doors in a cold snap.
- 4Crawlspaces and garages. Unheated spaces. Insulate exposed pipe and keep cold air out.
- 5Thawing safely. Open the tap and warm the space or use a hair dryer on low. Never use an open flame or a torch.
- 6If a pipe bursts. Shut the main off first, then call. Turning it off fast is what limits the damage.
Illustration for explanation, not a photo of a specific job. Layout varies by model and home.
Services covered
Frozen and burst pipe repair
Cracked and split pipes repaired or replaced, with access made where needed. We are open 24/7, and we tell you on the phone when we can be there.
Frozen pipe thawing
We locate the frozen section and thaw it safely, then check it for splits before the water goes back on.
Outdoor faucet replacement
Hose bibs and exterior lines that split over winter replaced, with frost-free hose bibs where they suit.
Stopping it happening again
We show you which runs are exposed and what would protect them, from insulation to rerouting a line out of an outside wall.
Signs a pipe has frozen
- A tap gives a trickle or nothing on a cold morning
- Frost on an exposed pipe, or a bulge in it
- A toilet that will not refill
- Water stains or dripping on a ceiling or wall after a cold night
- An outside tap that has not been shut off and drained for winter
Frozen pipe? Do this now
Safe steps while you wait for us. If water is already pouring, start with the first one.
Shut off the main
Close the main water shut-off where the water enters the house, often in a basement, crawlspace, mechanical room or garage. It stops the flooding if the pipe has split.
Open the taps
Open the cold and hot taps on the frozen line. It relieves pressure and lets water move once it starts to thaw.
Warm the space, not the pipe
Raise the heat and open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls. A hair dryer on low is fine. Never use an open flame or a torch.
Watch for leaks
As it thaws, check under sinks, ceilings and the area around the pipe. If you see water, keep the main off and call us.
Water heater
If the tank may have drained, don't switch an electric water heater back on until it is full again. Running it empty burns out the elements. Ask us if you're not sure.
Licence and how we work
Gas contractor licensed with Technical Safety BC (LGA0212697).
- Owner-operated. The owner quotes every job and is on site for the work.
- A fair, upfront price first. You get the price before any work starts, so you can say yes or no before you are committed.
- Gas work under permit. We pull the permit on gas work, and we can put the permit number and our licence number on your invoice.
- Honest repair-or-replace advice. We assess the job first and explain your options in plain language. If a repair makes more sense than a new unit, that's what we'll tell you.
What customers say
5.0 on Google from 57 reviews · Read Google reviews“Dylan helped me with frozen pipes in 2024 and recently with a leaky outdoor faucet. He is timely, diligent worker who cares about the quality of work he performs. Very honest. The best qualities you want in a professional plumber.”
Questions, answered
Are you open in the middle of the night?
We are open 24/7 for emergencies. Shut off your main water first, then call (250) 859-3548.
What do I do first if a pipe bursts?
Shut off the main water valve where the water enters the house. If water is near outlets or the electrical panel and you can reach the breaker without standing in water, switch that circuit off; otherwise stay clear and call 911 or your power utility. Then call us. The faster the water is off, the less damage there is.
How do I keep pipes from freezing?
Disconnect hoses and shut off and drain outdoor taps before winter, keep the heat on in the house even when you travel, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls during a cold snap, and insulate pipes in crawlspaces and garages. If a pipe has frozen before, have it looked at: it will usually freeze again.
Can a frozen pipe be fixed without opening the wall?
Sometimes. If it froze but did not split, thawing it may be all it needs. If it split inside the wall, we have to make access to repair it, and we keep that opening as small as we can.
Is a burst pipe covered by home insurance?
It depends on your policy. Many policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe but not damage from a slow leak, or from a home left unheated or unchecked while you were away. Take photos before you clean up and keep our invoice, which shows what failed and what we repaired.
Will frozen pipes thaw on their own?
They can, but thawing is when a split pipe starts to leak. Open the tap the line feeds, warm the space, and watch for water as it thaws. If you cannot find the frozen spot, or water appears, shut the main off and call us.
Areas we serve
Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country (including Oyama), Vernon and Peachland.
Get an honest answer and a fair, upfront price
We are open 24/7 and tell you honestly when we can be there. You get the price before any work starts.