How to Prevent Frozen & Burst Pipes in Mississauga This Winter

Every winter, deep cold snaps send Mississauga temperatures well below -15°C, and that’s when frozen and burst pipes spike across the GTA. Water expands about 9% when it freezes, building enough pressure to split copper, PEX and plastic lines. The damage usually shows up when the pipe thaws and water pours out. The good news: most frozen pipes are preventable. Use this checklist before winter hits.

Fall Checklist (Do This in October–November)

1. Shut off and drain outdoor taps. Close the interior shut-off valve for each exterior hose bib, then open the outside tap to drain it. Leave it open.
2. Disconnect garden hoses. A hose left attached traps water in the tap, even “frost-free” ones.
3. Insulate exposed pipes in garages, crawlspaces, cold cellars and unheated areas with foam pipe sleeves.
4. Seal air leaks around pipes where they pass through exterior walls, and around rim joists in the basement.
5. Drain irrigation and sprinkler systems, ideally with a compressed-air blowout.
6. Find your main shut-off valve and make sure it turns. Tag it so everyone in the house knows where it is.
7. Service your furnace, because a furnace failure during a cold snap is a common cause of frozen pipes.

During a Deep Freeze

• Keep the thermostat at 17°C or higher, day and night.
• Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
• Let a pencil-thin trickle of cold water run from taps on vulnerable lines overnight.
• Keep the garage door closed if there are water lines in the garage.

Going Away for the Holidays?

Many Ontario insurance policies limit coverage for freezing damage if the home is unheated or left unattended for more than a few days. Check your policy. Options include having someone check the house daily, keeping the heat on, or shutting off the main valve and draining the lines. A smart water leak sensor with automatic shut-off is a worthwhile upgrade. See our insurance guide.

How to Tell If a Pipe Is Frozen

• Only a trickle, or nothing, comes out of a tap
• Frost visible on an exposed pipe
• Toilet doesn’t refill
• Strange smells from drains

How to Safely Thaw a Frozen Pipe

1. Open the tap so melting water can flow out and relieve pressure.
2. Apply gentle heat: a hair dryer, heating pad or space heater kept at a safe distance, working from the tap end back toward the frozen section.
3. Never use an open flame or propane torch.
4. If you can’t find the frozen section, or the pipe is inside a wall, call a plumber.
5. Be ready to shut the main valve. A pipe that split while frozen will start leaking as it thaws.

If a Pipe Bursts

Shut off the main valve, turn off power to wet areas, photograph the damage and call for help. Follow our burst pipe emergency guide. Fast extraction and drying prevent mould and keep restoration costs down.