Frozen Pipes in Central Kentucky: What To Do Right Now

Step 1: Find your main water shutoff — right now

Before anything else, locate your main shutoff valve. In most Central KY homes it’s near the water meter, usually in the basement or crawl space. If a pipe bursts, you have about 60 seconds to get to it before serious damage starts. Tag it with a piece of tape so everyone in the house knows where it is.

Step 2: Open a faucet downstream of the suspected freeze

Open a cold-water faucet near where you think the pipe is frozen. This relieves pressure in the line — which is actually what causes a frozen pipe to burst. Even a trickle means water is flowing somewhere, which is good.

Step 3: Apply gentle heat — never a torch

A hair dryer on the suspected section works well. Start near the faucet and work toward the wall. Electric heating tape or a heating pad wrapped around the pipe also works. Never use an open flame — you’ll damage the pipe or start a fire.

Step 4: If nothing flows in 10 minutes, call us

If gentle heat isn’t restoring flow, the freeze is either deep in the wall or under a slab. That requires a plumber with heat trace equipment. Call 859-408-3382 — we’ll dispatch same day. It’s better to make the call early than to wait and deal with a burst.

The properties most at risk in Central KY

Unheated crawl spaces are the biggest risk we see — especially in Richmond, Berea, and Irvine where older homes have exposed pipes under the floor. Exterior walls in uninsulated garages. Pipes in non-conditioned additions or sunrooms. If your home was built before 1990 and has a crawl space, we strongly recommend a pre-winter insulation inspection.