Frozen and burst pipes in Brookings

If a pipe has already burst

1. Find the shutoff. In most Brookings homes the main valve is where the water line comes through the basement wall or floor near the meter.
2. Photograph the damage and the split section of pipe before anything is cleaned up.
3. Call a plumber for the repair. The South Dakota Plumbing Commission licenses plumbing contractors and plumbers, and its licensing office is at 605-773-3429 (SD Plumbing Commission).
4. Call for drying. Water from a burst pipe runs inside walls and under flooring, and a ceiling below a second-floor bathroom can hold a surprising amount.

Call about a burst pipe

How cold it gets in Brookings

The 1991–2020 normals for the Brookings 2 NE station put the January low at about 4°F, the February low at about 7°F and the December low at about 10°F. The coldest night of a typical year reaches about −23°F, and the station's record is −41°F on January 12, 1912 (PlainClimate). The city's climate table shows about 35 days a year with a low below zero (Wikipedia).

At those temperatures, pipes freeze in the same places again and again:

• Supply lines in exterior walls behind kitchen and bathroom sinks.
• Pipes in crawlspaces, unheated garages and three-season porches.
• Outdoor hose bibs, especially when the hose was left connected.
• Lines near basement rim joists, sill plates and drafty foundation vents.
• The water service line itself, where it is shallow or exposed.

A frozen pipe often does not leak until it thaws. That is why the water frequently shows up on a mild afternoon after a cold night, or in a rental or vacant house that nobody checked during a cold spell.

Thawing a frozen pipe safely

The American Red Cross recommends keeping the faucet open, because running water helps melt ice in the line, and applying heat with an electric heating pad, a hair dryer, a portable space heater kept away from flammable materials, or towels soaked in hot water (American Red Cross). Keep applying heat until full water pressure returns, check the other faucets in the house, and call a licensed plumber if you cannot find or reach the frozen section.

Never use a blowtorch or other open flame. Heating also carries its own fire risk: the U.S. Fire Administration says space heaters are involved in a small share of home heating fires but a large share of the deadly ones, and recommends keeping anything that can burn at least three feet away from a heater (USFA).

Preventing the next freeze

The Red Cross recommends these steps before and during a cold snap:

• Drain and store garden hoses, and close the inside valves that supply outdoor hose bibs, leaving the outside faucet open so water can drain.
• Insulate attics, basements and crawlspaces, and add pipe sleeves or UL-listed heat tape to exposed pipes.
• Keep garage doors closed if water lines run through the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors so warm air reaches pipes on outside walls.
• Let a cold-water faucet drip on the coldest nights.
• Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night, and if you will be away, leave the heat on no lower than 55°F.

For student rentals near SDSU that sit empty over winter break, the last point matters most. Ask the landlord or property manager who is checking the house while it is empty.

What drying a burst pipe involves

The EPA recommends drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth (EPA). After a burst pipe, a restoration provider will map moisture in the walls, ceilings and subfloor, remove wet insulation and any drywall that cannot be dried, and run dehumidifiers and air movers until readings reach dry standard. Leaks that ran for days in an empty house usually need more removal, because the water had time to wick farther and begin to degrade.

Cost and insurance

Angi puts the typical cost of repairing a burst pipe and its water damage at about $1,000 to $4,000 nationally (Angi). These are national figures, not quotes.

A burst pipe is usually treated as sudden water damage, but the policy wording and the circumstances, such as whether the home was heated, matter. The South Dakota Division of Insurance notes that mobile home policies typically do not cover frozen pipes, and urges homeowners to review their coverage with an agent (SD Division of Insurance). Report the loss promptly, keep the split pipe if the plumber removes it, and see the South Dakota insurance guide for claim steps.

The line from the street

If the frozen section is in the service line rather than inside the house, Brookings Municipal Utilities says property owners own their private water service line all the way to the main, including the part under the street (BMU). A plumber handles thawing or replacing it. BMU can be reached at 605-692-6325 about the meter or the main.

Call a restoration provider