Frozen water pipes

Underground water pipes and internal plumbing can freeze in winter, causing water outages and in the worst cases, burst pipes. This is a common problem among many Canadian cities, and all properties are at risk of frozen pipes.

If clean water is flooding your home or business:

  • Turn off the main shut-off valve immediately
    • The main shut off valve is often located near the water meter at the point where the water line enters your home or building
  • If you live in a condo, townhome or apartment, call your building owner or building manager

If you think your pipes are frozen

The first thing to do is confirm that your pipes are frozen. Key signs of frozen pipes include:

  • Lack of or very little water coming out of the faucets
  • Damp areas or flooding in your home or business, as frozen pipes can burst
  • Visible frost on internal pipes and/or the main shut off valve located near your water meter

If little to no water is coming out of faucets or you find frost on internal pipes:

  • Confirm there are no water outages in your area by checking MyUtilityInfo
  • Determine where your pipes are frozen
    • Underground pipe freezes
      • Very little to no water from all faucets
    • Internal pipe freezes
      • Some faucets have regular water flow, others have very little or none
  • Request City of Winnipeg thawing services for frozen underground pipes by contacting 311. Fees may apply.
  • Hire a licensed contractor or try thawing internal plumbing yourself.
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