First aid
Burst pipe first aid, then the repair itself
The first job belongs to you: stop the water. Everything after that is ours.
Right now, in this order
Close the main shut-off. Open the lowest faucet in the house, often a tub, to drain what is left in the lines. If the hot side burst, switch off the water heater’s gas or breaker as well.
Freeze breaks rarely come alone. When one line in an attic splits, others on the same cold run may have cracked too, and they stay dry until pressure returns. So the visit follows the whole route the water travels, not just the spray you found.
- Split copper and frozen fittings in attics and exterior walls
- PEX lines and crimp or expansion fittings pushed apart by ice
- CPVC that turned brittle in the cold and cracked
- Hose bibs and frost-free sillcocks that split inside the wall
- Polybutylene and galvanized sections in older houses
- Yard lines from the meter that broke in frozen ground (see water line repair)
Causes and signs
Why do pipes burst in a Texas cold snap?
Central Texas houses are built for heat, which is exactly why a hard freeze hurts them.
Many homes here run supply pipes through attics and exterior walls because winters are usually mild. Water expands as it freezes, and pressure builds between the ice plug and a closed faucet until the pipe or a fitting gives. The split often shows only after the thaw.
Winter Storm Uri proved it across Williamson County in February 2021. Two of our reviewers describe that week. One saw water streaming across a snowy driveway from a broken line; another went five days without water after a pipe flooded the house.
Signs a pipe froze or split
- No water, or only a trickle, at one fixture on a freezing morning
- Frost on an exposed pipe, or a visible bulge in copper
- Hissing in a wall or ceiling once temperatures climb
- The meter dial turning with every faucet closed
- Wet drywall or a stain spreading along an exterior wall
Not every break is weather. Polybutylene, installed in homes roughly from 1978 to 1995, and old galvanized steel both fail with age, usually at a fitting.
The repair
How a burst or frozen pipe gets repaired, start to finish
The same six steps whether the break is in an attic, a wall or a closet.
Confirm the water is off
We check the main and any branch valves the house has, then relieve the pressure so the repair area stays dry while we work.
Open only what is needed
Access starts at the wettest point. Drywall is cut in clean rectangles that patch easily, and attic insulation is pulled back rather than torn out.
Thaw before judging
Frozen sections are warmed gently, never with an open flame. As each part thaws and refills, any hidden second or third split shows itself.
Cut back to sound pipe
The damaged length comes out past the split, because freeze-stretched pipe beside a break is often weak too. The new section matches the old material or upgrades it.
Pressure-test the whole run
With the repair made, the line comes back to pressure and we watch both the joints and the meter to prove nothing else is leaking.
Insulate and explain
Exposed runs get foam sleeves, and you see where the line was vulnerable and what would keep it from freezing next winter.
Cost
Burst pipe repair cost in Georgetown: the factors behind the quote
What we find once the wall or ceiling is open sets the price, so the quote comes on site before work starts.
| What we find | How it moves the price |
|---|---|
| One split in an open attic | The smallest job: short access and one repair section |
| Breaks inside finished walls or ceilings | More cutting, plus drying time before anyone patches |
| Several splits on one freeze-exposed run | Replacing the run can cost less than patching each break |
| Polybutylene or galvanized beside the break | Patching old pipe can move the next leak a foot over; a section repipe may be better value |
| A broken yard line from the meter | Digging, a Texas 811 locate, and limestone or clay in the trench |
Pressure counts as well. If a gauge on a hose bib reads high, a pressure-reducing valve may belong in the fix, because extra pressure strains every joint in the house.
Wall, paint and floor restoration is a separate line from the plumbing. Keep each estimate apart, since your insurer will usually want to see them individually.
Insurance and rules
Will insurance pay for a burst pipe? What TDI tells Texas homeowners
The Texas Department of Insurance publishes plain guidance, and the permit rules follow the size of the job.
TDI says most homeowner policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe, but usually not damage from gradual leaks. It also tells homeowners to stop the water quickly, photograph the damage and hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer sees it.
That makes a temporary clamp and your photos part of the claim. Keep the cut-out piece of pipe, too, because it shows the adjuster how the line failed.
If several breaks turn the job into a repipe, most cities in the area, Georgetown included, require a permit, and we pull it. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners regulates plumbers, and its public search shows the Responsible Master Plumber behind any company.
Why Alta Vista Plumbing
Freeze repairs our customers remember
The best evidence is what people wrote once the water was back on.
In February 2021 we worked through the backlog Winter Storm Uri left across the county. One reviewer, with snow still on the ground, got a temporary fix that restored water while parts for the final repair arrived. Another wrote that finding a plumber that week felt like winning the lottery.
Alta Vista Plumbing has repaired pipes in Georgetown attics, walls and yards since 1999. A 4.7 average across 436 Google reviews says the work holds, and reviewers keep mentioning options explained before the repair begins. Residential or commercial, the call goes to (512) 988-5119.
Broken-pipe repairs in our customers’ words
4.7 average from 436 Google reviewsRead our Google reviews
I contacted AVP Services when I knew they were probably the busiest they would be for the foreseeable future, after a prolonged freeze, before the snow and ice were gone. I knew I needed help because a stream of water was flowing slowly across my driveway, still surrounded by 6 inches of snow and ice on either side. I had the water turned off for only a day before Steve arrived on a Sunday afternoon to make a "temporary fix" and restore water, while waiting to securing parts for the final repair. I greatly appreciated his help with keeping the water on while waiting for the necessary parts. I highly recommend this business, very accommodating and competent.
Reply from Alta Vista Plumbing
Mr. Adams. We are always happy to help where we can and do our part to keep a functioning household going. A lot of folks suffered hardships with this past storm and at least restoring water to a home was important to us. Glad we could be of help. We really appreciate your support and recommendation. Please keep us in mind in the near future for any plumbing needs.
Excellent all the way! Very pleasant, professional and in time service. They came to my rescue, after 5 days, following the bitter cold and snow storm of February 2021 in Texas. Not having continuous electricity and heat caused a tremendous hardship to many including me. My house became very cold and my pipe broke causing flood inside my house. Water had to be shut off. Therefore no running water for 5 days. Finding a plumber was like winning a lottery now. These folks came to me as blessings from heaven! I can’t thank them enough. I am forever grateful to them! THANK YOU again!
Reply from Alta Vista Plumbing
Mr. Muhib. You are so very welcome sir. Your kind words sink deep to our core and we must pass the credit to our team and of course, a higher source. We are glad we were able to restore water to your residence. Please let us know if you need any plumbing services in the future.
We had a pipe break (2 days before Christmas) late in the afternoon, and Alta Vista came out within 15 minutes to stabilize the leak. They also pointed out some addition issues related to the freeze that we hadn’t found yet. Great, fast and polite service. Will be using them again as soon as things thaw out a bit :)
Reply from Alta Vista Plumbing
Hello Mr. Grantges, we were able to assist you so promptly and that our technicians were alert and informative! We can't wait to hear from you again. In the meantime enjoy the fixed pipes!
Jared was on time and diagnosed our problem, drove into Round Rock to get a part, then came back and fixed our broken pipe. He was very professional and explained everything. He is a credit to Alta Vista and his profession!…
Our water heater stopped working in the middle of a cold snap. Steve cut short his breakfast to stop by and take a look. Not only was he able to fix the immediate problem, but also suggested some improvements we could make to avoid a reoccurrence. Give these guys a call!
Steve and his crew were recommended to us for a leaking water pipe in front of the house. They were very prompt in their reply’s, informative, honest and fair, looking for the most cost effective options. We have now used him twice and he would be the first person we would call if there was a third issue.