Frozen Pipes in Welland: How to Prevent Them (and What to Do if They Burst)

If you've lived through a Welland winter, you already know — when the wind whips off the canal and overnight temperatures plunge into the negatives, exposed pipes become a real liability. Frozen pipes are one of the most common emergency calls we get across the Niagara Region, and they're almost always preventable.

Why Welland homes are especially at risk

Welland's older neighbourhoods like Crowland, Dain City, and Cooks Mills have plenty of homes built before modern insulation standards. Crawlspaces, unheated basements, and exterior wall plumbing runs are common — and those are exactly the spots that freeze first when the temperature drops below -10°C.

5 prevention steps every Welland homeowner should take

• Insulate any exposed pipes in basements, crawlspaces, attics, and garages with foam pipe sleeves.
• On extreme cold nights, let one or two faucets drip — moving water resists freezing.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors so warm air reaches plumbing on exterior walls.
• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off the interior valves to outdoor spigots before the first hard freeze.
• Keep your thermostat at 18°C (65°F) or higher overnight — even if you're away.

What to do if a pipe freezes

If you turn on a tap and only get a trickle, suspect a freeze. Shut off your main water valve immediately — if the pipe has cracked, you want to limit the damage when it thaws. Then call a licensed plumber. Never use an open flame to thaw a pipe; we use safe heating cables and warm towels to thaw without splitting the line.

Burst pipe? Call us 24/7

If you're already standing in water, every minute matters. Ottr Plumr runs 24/7 emergency service across Welland and the entire Niagara Region. Call 289-488-1007 — we'll dispatch fast and stop the damage.