Hear From Our Customers
You get your water back without the nightmare of burst pipes flooding your home. No more worrying about whether that strange sound means disaster is coming.
We stop the problem before it becomes a catastrophe. Your pipes work normally, your basement stays dry, and you avoid the headache of dealing with insurance claims for water damage.
The peace of mind is immediate. You know the job was done right by professionals who understand how quickly frozen pipes can turn into expensive disasters.
Go-Rooter has been handling Chicago-area frozen pipes since 1995. We understand how Elmwood Park’s location just west of the city creates unique freezing conditions.
When temperatures hit 21 degrees at night, we’re the team residents call. We’ve thawed pipes in crawl spaces, basements, and exterior walls throughout Cook County.
Our family-owned company doesn’t just fix the immediate problem. We identify why your pipes froze and help prevent it from happening again.
First, we shut off your water supply to prevent flooding if the pipe has already cracked. This stops any immediate damage while we assess the situation.
Next, we use professional electrical thawing equipment. We attach cables to both ends of the frozen pipe and send controlled electrical currents through the metal. This gradually warms the pipe from the inside out.
The process takes time because rushing it can cause the pipe to burst. We monitor the thawing carefully, checking for any signs of damage as the ice melts. Once water flows normally, we inspect the entire section for potential weak spots that could cause problems later.
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You get immediate emergency response, professional thawing, and thorough inspection. We arrive with the equipment needed to handle your specific pipe configuration.
Elmwood Park’s housing mix means we work on everything from older homes with steel pipes to newer construction with copper and PVC. Each material requires different thawing techniques to prevent damage.
We also handle the prevention side. After thawing your pipes, we identify vulnerable areas and recommend insulation improvements. Many Elmwood Park homes have pipes near exterior walls that need extra protection during the harsh Illinois winters.
We dispatch the nearest emergency plumber within minutes of your call, typically arriving within an hour. Our 24/7 service means you get help immediately, even at 3 AM during the worst winter storms.
Time matters with frozen pipes because they can burst without warning. The longer water sits frozen in your pipes, the more pressure builds up. We keep fully stocked service trucks throughout Cook County so we can start thawing your pipes as soon as we arrive.
Our emergency response includes stopping water flow first, then beginning the thawing process. We don’t make you wait until morning or schedule you for the next day when your pipes could burst at any moment.
Pipes freeze when temperatures drop below 32 degrees, which happens frequently during Elmwood Park winters. The most vulnerable pipes are those in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, and along exterior walls.
Poor insulation is the biggest culprit. Many older Elmwood Park homes have pipes that were installed before modern insulation standards. North-facing walls get the least sunlight and stay coldest longest, making pipes in those areas freeze first.
Air leaks around pipes let cold air reach the water lines. Even small gaps in your foundation or around pipe penetrations can create enough cold air flow to freeze pipes. We identify these problem areas during our inspection and recommend permanent solutions.
Never use open flames, torches, or high-heat sources to thaw pipes. These methods can cause pipes to burst instantly or create fire hazards. Hair dryers and space heaters can work for accessible pipes, but most frozen pipes are in hard-to-reach areas.
The safest approach is professional electrical thawing. We use specialized equipment that gradually warms the pipe without creating dangerous hot spots that cause bursting. Our method works on pipes inside walls and underground where you can’t safely reach them.
DIY thawing attempts often make the situation worse. If the pipe has already cracked, applying heat can cause it to burst completely, flooding your home. Professional assessment determines whether the pipe is damaged before we begin thawing.
Emergency frozen pipe thawing typically costs between $200-500, depending on the pipe location and complexity. We provide upfront pricing before starting any work, even during emergency calls, so you know exactly what you’ll pay.
The cost includes emergency response, professional thawing, and inspection of the affected area. If we find pipe damage that requires replacement, we’ll give you a separate estimate for that work. Most frozen pipe calls don’t require pipe replacement if we catch them quickly.
Compare this to the cost of water damage from a burst pipe, which averages $5,000-10,000 in repairs. Emergency thawing is always less expensive than dealing with flooding, damaged floors, and ruined belongings.
Yes, we identify the conditions that caused your pipes to freeze and recommend specific prevention measures. Most frozen pipe problems can be prevented with proper insulation and air sealing around vulnerable pipe areas.
We inspect your entire plumbing system to find other pipes that could freeze under similar conditions. Common solutions include adding pipe insulation, sealing air leaks, and installing heat tape in problem areas. For severe cases, we might recommend rerouting pipes away from exterior walls.
Regular maintenance helps too. We recommend having your plumbing inspected before winter to identify potential freezing risks. Small prevention investments now save thousands in emergency repairs and water damage later.
Turn off your main water supply immediately to prevent flooding if the pipes burst. Don’t attempt to thaw the pipes yourself with torches or high-heat sources, which can cause immediate bursting.
Call us right away, even if it’s the middle of the night. Frozen pipes can burst at any moment, and waiting until morning increases your risk significantly. Keep your heat on and open cabinet doors to let warm air reach pipes under sinks.
If you already have water leaking, shut off electricity to the affected area and move valuables to higher ground. Document any water damage with photos for insurance purposes, but don’t delay calling for emergency pipe repair while you’re taking pictures.
