I learned the hard way that frozen water pipes can do an extreme amount of damage to a home. I had a tenant in a rental property skip out on me in the winter. It turns out that she never had the gas turned on even though she had been there six months. The pipes under the kitchen sink burst and sprayed water for 3 days before it was discovered. The kitchen was flooded as well as the basement. Of course the furnace was in the basement so that was history. We had to have the water turned off, the pipe fixed and the water pumped out of the basement. Then you have to have the flooded area dried out to prevent mold and mildew damage which can start within two or three days. In our case there was also foundation damage done in the basement. My situation was different because it was a tenant situation; however pipes can still burst in an occupied home.

Frozen water in a pipe expands and can exert over 2,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. This pressure will rupture most pipes that are filled with water because there is no room for the ice to expand. A burst pipe can spill several hundred gallons of water per hour creating several thousand dollars of damage to your home. Homes that are older and have poor insulation are at greater risk. However anytime that the water lines are located in an outside wall, under a sink on an outside wall or in an unheated crawl space they are more likely to freeze with a sudden or prolonged temperature drop. There are several measures you can take to reduce your risk.
 

Open kitchen base cabinet and let room air circulate.

Pace a small portable heater near or in the open cabinet to heat the pipes
Let the faucet drip slightly. The dripping water will keep the water in the pipe from freezing and reduce the pressure in the pipe.
Wrap the problem pipes with electrical heat tape.
Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl space and attic.
Seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out.
Disconnect garden hoses and shut off the indoor valve and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
Heat an unheated crawlspace by temporarily placing a heater in the crawlspace. Elevating the temperature to just above freezing will reduce the risk.
If your pipes are frozen and have not burst yet there are some steps you can take to reduce potential damage. You need to take action as soon as you know you have a frozen pipe.
Open the faucet supplied by the frozen pipe to reduce pressure while thawing.
Identify the frozen supply pipe and find the location of the frozen blockage.
Often the frozen area of the pipe will be frosted over or have ice on it. If the situation is critical the pipe may be slightly bulged.
Warm the pipe slowly to thaw the frozen section. You can do this with a blow dryer, a heat lamp, a small portable heater or electric pipe heat tape.
Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe.
NEVER use a flame (blow) torch or any other open flame to thaw the frozen pipes. The risk of starting a house fire is too great.
Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water because you could be electrocuted.
If the pipe bursts while thawing shut off the water at the water main immediately.

If your home will be vacant for an extended period of time, you should have it winterized. An AllCheck inspector will shut off the water to your house, empty the plumbing lines, drain the water heater, and fill all drain traps with antifreeze. I strongly recommend having summer or vacation homes winterized when not in use during the winter months or you could have a situation like mine where the water problem was not discovered for days. This is the best way to protect your investment from costly damage for a small amount of money. Also, the home you purchased may have been winterized. If so, we will come out to turn the water on, check for leaks, and ensure all plumbing is operational.