Frozen Water Line
FROZEN PIPE REPAIR — THAWED, FIXED, AND REINFORCED
Pipe frozen, cracked, or already burst? We thaw it safely, find every fracture, and reinforce the run with insulation and heat tape so it doesn't happen again. 24/7 emergency dispatch across North Louisiana.
4.9★ on Google
300+ reviews
24/7 Emergency
60–90 min dispatch
Licensed & insured
Louisiana plumbing contractor
North Louisiana
Ruston to Shreveport
Flat-rate pricing
Quoted before we start
Overview
Frozen pipes are an emergency — even when they haven't burst yet
Water expands roughly 9% when it freezes. A pipe full of ice is already overstressed, and the moment a fracture forms, you're racing the thaw. By the time water starts dripping out, a 1/8" crack at 60 PSI is dumping 4–8 gallons per minute into your drywall, subfloor, or basement. The repair is rarely the expensive part — the water damage is. That's why we treat every frozen-pipe call as urgent, day or night.
Our crews carry the right thawing tools (electric pipe thawing machines, infrared, hot water circulation — never open flame, ever) and the parts to splice or replace common runs on the same trip. Copper, PEX, CPVC, galvanized, polybutylene — we've worked all of it. We start by isolating the section, locating the fracture (or potential fracture), and giving you a clear go/no-go on whether the line can be saved with a coupling repair or needs a full replacement.
What we do on a frozen-pipe call
- Shut off and assess. First step is finding your main shutoff and isolating the affected branch so the thaw doesn't flood the house.
- Locate the freeze and any cracks. We trace the cold section by feel and infrared, then pressure-test once it's thawed to find micro-fractures you can't see.
- Thaw safely. Pipe thawing machine for metal lines, hot-water circulation or warm-air for PEX. No torches — ever. Open flame near a frozen pipe in a wall cavity is how houses burn down.
- Repair or replace. Small fracture in an accessible run = SharkBite or soldered coupling. Long damaged section, polybutylene, or repeat-freeze location = full replacement with PEX-A or copper.
- Reinforce the run. Pipe insulation, heat tape with thermostat, and air-sealing the cold air leak that caused the freeze in the first place. Most freezes are an air-leak problem, not a plumbing problem.
Why North Louisiana pipes freeze
North Louisiana's climate brings surprise hard freezes — temperatures dipping to the low 20s°F overnight, and many homes built without freeze protection in the plumbing. The freeze almost always happens in the same five places: garage walls, exterior kitchen walls, crawl spaces, attic-mounted hose bibs, and the line feeding a frost-free spigot if a hose was left attached. We see the same five every hard winter.
What Mark Johnson & Sons does differently
Real 24/7 dispatch — answer is a person, not a machine. Same-day response on any active or recent freeze. Flat-rate pricing quoted before we open a wrench, even at 2am. All repairs come with a 1-year warranty on parts and labor. MJP Service Club members get 15% off and priority dispatch — which matters when calls spike during a cold snap.
Free quote
Frozen pipe? We're already on the way.
Tell us what you're seeing — no water at one fixture, dripping ceiling, or a hose bib still attached. We'll dispatch the right truck.
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24/7
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Frozen pipe repair
One per household. Must mention at booking. Standard pricing.
Expires 12/31/2026
FREE
Pipe insulation upgrade with any freeze repair
Up to 20 linear feet closed-cell foam. Labor only.
Expires 12/31/2026
Mention coupon when booking. One offer per household.
Warning signs
Signs You Have a Frozen Pipe (Or Are About To)
If you catch a freeze before it cracks, the repair is $185 instead of $4,000 in water damage. Watch for these.
No water from one fixture, but rest of the house works
Water trickles instead of flowing — usually starting at one cold-side fixture
Frost or condensation on visible pipe runs in basement, crawl, or garage
Bulging or discolored section of an exposed pipe
Banging or knocking sound in the wall when the heat kicks on
Outdoor spigot won't shut off after winter — pipe inside the wall is cracked
Wet drywall, ceiling stain, or musty smell appearing in cold weather
Pipe sweating heavily right after a deep freeze
Hose bib left connected over winter — even if it 'seems fine'
Unexplained drop in water pressure on cold mornings
Don't wait for the thaw
A frozen pipe is already a leak — it's just paused.
Catch it before it bursts and you save $4,000 in water damage. We dispatch 24/7 across North Louisiana.
Cold-snap dispatch
24/7
Across Ruston, Monroe, Shreveport, Bossier City, and North Louisiana.
The Process
How a Frozen Pipe Call Works
Shut off and isolate
Tech finds your main shutoff, isolates the affected branch, and protects everything below the freeze with drop cloths. If a pipe is already leaking, water-off is the first 30 seconds.
Locate the freeze
Trace the cold section by hand and infrared thermometer. We map the run, find the freeze point, and identify any obvious cracks before thawing begins.
Thaw safely
Electric pipe thawing machine for copper and galvanized. Warm-air or hot-water circulation for PEX and CPVC. Never open flame — that's how homes burn during a freeze.
Pressure-test for cracks
Once the line is liquid again, we restore pressure with the main partly open and watch for hidden fractures. Micro-cracks often don't show until water flows.
Repair or replace
Single-point crack in an accessible spot = SharkBite or soldered coupling, 30-60 minutes. Long damaged run or polybutylene/galvanized = full replacement with modern PEX-A or copper.
Reinforce the run
Insulate exposed pipe with closed-cell foam, install heat tape with thermostat in cold zones, seal the air leak that caused the freeze. Same freeze does NOT happen twice.
Pricing
Frozen Pipe Repair Cost in North Louisiana
Flat-rate pricing by job type. Emergency surcharge applies after-hours.
Diagnostic / shutoff response
Low
$89
High
$129
Member
$76
– $110
Waived if you approve the repair
Thaw single line (no damage)
Low
$185
High
$385
Member
$157
– $327
Caught before fracture
Single coupling repair (accessible)
Low
$285
High
$585
Member
$242
– $497
Copper or PEX, basement or crawl
In-wall pipe repair (drywall cut)
Low
$485
High
$985
Member
$412
– $837
Open access, splice, restore — drywall patch separate
Frost-free hose bib replacement
Low
$285
High
$585
Member
$242
– $497
Common winter burst point
Section replacement (5-15 ft)
Low
$685
High
$1,485
Member
$582
– $1,262
Replace damaged run with PEX-A or copper
Heat tape + insulation reinforcement
Low
$185
High
$485
Member
$157
– $412
Per problem area
Whole-line replacement (frequent freeze zone)
Low
$1,485
High
$3,850
Member
$1,262
– $3,273
Reroute through warm zone, full PEX-A
Emergency after-hours surcharge
Low
$95
High
$250
Member
$81
– $213
Nights, weekends, holidays — winter cold-snap demand pricing applies
Member pricing reflects the Quality Service Club 15% repair discount. Service call fees are separate.
Drywall patching, refinishing, and water damage restoration not included. We coordinate with restoration partners when needed.
Quality Service Club
Skip the bill. Skip the line.
For $79 a year, members get 15% off every repair, priority dispatch on every call, and a free annual drain and plumbing inspection — the same stuff we'd charge $195 for on a cold call.
- 15% off repairs
- Priority dispatch
- Annual inspection
- 24/7 service access
- $25 referral bonus
- Parts + labor warranty
Plumbing
$79/year
- 15% off all plumbing repairs
- Priority dispatch — skip the line
- Annual drain piping inspection
- Full home water-supply inspection
- Tag on your emergency shut-off
- $25 referral bonus
Questions? Talk to a real human — (318) 319-0220
Cancel anytime. 1-year minimum.
FAQ
Frozen Water Line FAQs
Catching it before it bursts and just thawing the line runs $185-$385. A single coupling repair on an accessible run is $285-$585. In-wall repairs that require drywall cutting run $485-$985 — drywall patching after is separate. Whole-line replacement in a chronic freeze zone is $1,485-$3,850 with full PEX-A and a warm-zone reroute.
Related services
Related Plumbing Services
Burst Pipe Repair
Already burst? Same-day repair, 24/7 emergency dispatch.
Whole-Home Repipe
Polybutylene or galvanized? Replace before the next freeze.
Water Leak Detection
Hidden leak from a thawed crack — thermal and acoustic tools.
Faucet & Hose Bib Repair
Outdoor spigot dripping after winter? Common burst point.
24/7 Emergency Plumber
Real person on the phone, dispatch in 60 minutes typical.
Available Around the Clock
Emergency?
We answer 24/7.
Burst pipe, water heater out, sewer backup? Real plumbers pick up — no answering machines. Mark Johnson & Sons Plumbing serves North Louisiana any time, day or night.
LA Master Plumbing #1874 · Backflow Cert #28131 · Master Natural Gas Fitter #LMNGF9062 · State Contractors #35794