Union County Water says a frozen pipe crack as small as one-eighth of an inch can release more than 250 gallons of water a day. Waxhaw has seen freezing rain in January 2016 and January 2025, a snow and sleet storm in January 2022 and about 10 inches of snow near town on January 31, 2026. This post covers the warning signs, what to do when a pipe lets go and what the utility advises before the next freeze.
Key takeaways
- Union County Water says a frozen pipe crack as small as one-eighth of an inch can release more than 250 gallons of water a day.
- A frozen pipe often leaks only at the thaw, when the ice melts and water starts to flow through the split.
- Shut off the main water valve first, then open a low faucet, stay clear of wet electrical fixtures and photograph the damage.
- The utility's pre-freeze checklist is short: wrap pipes in attics, garages and crawl spaces, open cabinet doors under sinks, disconnect outdoor hoses and never let outdoor spigots drip.
- After a thaw leak, extraction and drying of walls, ceilings and floors come before anything is closed up or repaired over.
How a small crack becomes a flood
Water expands as it freezes, and the ice can split a pipe or loosen a joint. The split often stays plugged by ice until the pipe thaws, and then the pressure behind it pushes water through the opening.
According to Union County Water, a crack as small as one-eighth of an inch can release more than 250 gallons a day. Left running through a night or a workday, that is enough to soak insulation, drywall and floors.
That is why even a pinhole in a pipe is worth taking seriously. The opening is tiny, but the supply behind it is steady until someone closes the main valve.
Where the leak hides
- Attics and garages: unheated places where exposed pipes sit
- Crawl spaces: cold air and little protection for pipes under the floor
- Under sinks: closed cabinet doors keep room heat away from supply pipes
Why it appears at the thaw
While the pipe is frozen, nothing flows through the crack. The first sign is often a wet ceiling, a dripping light fixture or a damp wall once the temperature climbs.
Waxhaw's recent cold
Weather records for the Waxhaw area show repeated winter events. These are weather reports, not damage reports, but they show the cold that pipes in unheated spaces have faced.
- January 22, 2016: freezing rain of 0.33 inch reported at Waxhaw
- January 17 to 18, 2018: snow near Waxhaw, with about 3 inches reported north-northwest of town
- January 16, 2022: a winter storm brought about 2 inches of snow to Waxhaw and 1 inch of sleet east-northeast of town
- January 11, 2025: freezing rain of about a quarter inch reported west of Waxhaw
- January 30 to February 1, 2026: about 10 inches of snow near Waxhaw, including 10.0 inches reported northeast of town on the evening of January 31
Water spreading right now?
Shut off the main if it is safe. The restoration team extracts, dries to the IICRC S500 goal and documents every step, 24/7.
Signs a pipe is frozen before it splits
A frozen pipe gives warnings, and catching one early can save a wall.
- A faucet that runs as a trickle or not at all while others work
- Frost or ice on an exposed pipe in an attic, garage or crawl space
- A pipe that feels much colder than its neighbors
- A bulge or hairline split in the pipe
What to do when a pipe lets go
A split pipe that has already flooded a wall counts as burst pipe water damage in Waxhaw, whatever froze it. Time matters because the water keeps flowing until the main valve is closed.
Never use a torch or open flame on a frozen pipe. If one is frozen but has not split, open the faucet it feeds and call a plumber.
- Shut off the main water valve to stop the flow.
- Open a faucet at the lowest level to drain what is left in the pipes.
- Switch off power to wet rooms from a dry panel, and stay clear of wet light fixtures and outlets.
- Move furniture, rugs and boxes off wet floors, and set buckets under active drips.
- Photograph the split pipe, the wet areas and any ceiling below the leak.
- Call a plumber for the repair and the restoration team for the water.
What the restoration team removes and dries
The plumber fixes the pipe. The frozen pipe water damage crew deals with everything the water reached.
Extraction and removal
- Standing water is extracted from floors and any wet ceiling cavity.
- Drywall that stayed wet is cut out so the cavity can dry.
- Soaked insulation in an attic or wall is removed.
- Wet carpet pad is lifted and bagged, since pad holds water against the floor.
Drying to a reading
Air movers and dehumidifiers run until moisture readings match dry materials elsewhere in the house. The readings are logged each day, which also gives the insurer a record.
Checking for hidden wetness
- Stains that keep growing on a dry day
- A musty smell in a closet or room near the leak
- Baseboards or flooring that cup or lift
- Paint that bubbles on a wall near the pipe
Union County Water's pre-freeze checklist
The utility's advice is short, and every item is cheaper than a flooded wall. The steps apply before freezing weather comes in, not after.
More on the cleanup side is on the main frozen pipe water damage page.
The checklist
- Wrap pipes in attics, garages and crawl spaces.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks so room heat reaches the pipes.
- Disconnect outdoor hoses.
- Never let outdoor spigots drip.
- Cover backflow valves before freezing weather.
Why each step helps
- Wrapping slows heat loss from pipes that sit in cold spaces.
- Open cabinet doors let room air reach pipes behind sink bases.
- A disconnected hose lets the spigot drain instead of holding water that can freeze.
- A covered backflow valve keeps cold air off a fitting that sits outdoors.
Records and coverage
A clear file speeds a claim. Many policies treat a sudden burst differently from a long-term leak, so the policy wording decides what applies.
Questions about coverage go to the insurer, and the Waxhaw water damage restoration pages explain the cleanup side.
- Dated photos of the split pipe and every wet area
- A note of when the leak was found and when the water was shut off
- The National Weather Service report for the date, which shows the cold that caused the freeze
- The restoration team's removal list and daily readings
Questions
How much water can a small frozen pipe crack release?
Union County Water says a crack as small as one-eighth of an inch can release more than 250 gallons of water a day.
Why does a frozen pipe leak only after it thaws?
Ice plugs the split while the pipe is frozen. When the ice melts, the water pressure behind it pushes water through the opening.
Should an outdoor spigot be left dripping in a freeze?
Union County Water advises against it. Its checklist says to disconnect outdoor hoses, never let outdoor spigots drip and cover backflow valves before freezing weather.
Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe?
Coverage depends on the policy and on whether the damage was sudden or gradual. The insurer can explain the steps, and photos and readings support the file.
What has to dry after a thaw leak?
Walls, ceilings, floors and any insulation the water reached. The crew sets equipment and checks readings each day until the materials match dry areas of the house.