Freeze & Flood Protection · Chicago, IL
Freeze & Flood Protection in Chicago, IL
Frozen and burst pipes, sump pumps and basement water. If a pipe freezes in your Chicago home, shut off the main before it thaws and warm the pipe gently, never with an open flame. 76% of homes in the ZIP codes we cover were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 86 ZIP codes covered
- Quote before work
Where pipes freeze in Chicago
Illinois has long, hard winters. Pre-1980 housing here is 76%, above the Illinois figure of 64%. That ranks 14th highest of the 57 Illinois cities we profile. Older homes are more likely to have supply lines in exterior walls, crawl spaces and unheated garages.
Only 26% of homes are detached houses. In apartments and attached homes, a frozen pipe in one unit can flood the units below, so report it to the building right away.
In Illinois: Winters are long and cold, so frozen and burst pipes in exterior walls and crawl spaces are a regular emergency.
After a burst
After a burst, the plumber cuts out the split section, checks nearby pipe and can reroute lines that keep freezing.
Freeze & Flood Protection services in Chicago
Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair, Sump Pump Installation & Replacement, Pinhole Leak Repair, Whole-House Repiping.
Chicago figures behind this page
- Winters
- Long, hard winters
- Built before 1980
- 76%
- Single-family detached
- 26%
What to do first
- Shut off the main and open faucets to drain the system
- Thaw an exposed, intact pipe with a hair dryer, working from the faucet back
- Open sink cabinets and let faucets drip on the coldest nights
What affects the price
- Where the break is (open basement vs. inside a finished wall or ceiling)
- Number of breaks
- Pipe material
- Rerouting or insulating to prevent a repeat
The plumber quotes on site, before any work starts.
How the job works
Every freeze & flood protection service is explained on our Freeze & Flood Protection page. For the rest of Chicago's plumbing picture, see plumbers in Chicago and sewer line repair in Chicago.
Freeze & Flood Protection in Chicago: FAQ
What should I do before leaving my Chicago home in winter?
Keep the heat at 55 °F or higher, open sink cabinets on exterior walls, disconnect hoses, and for a long trip shut off the main and drain the lines.
Nearby
ZIP codes covered in Chicago: 60290, 60499, 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60608, 60609, 60610, 60611, 60612, 60613, 60614, 60615, 60616, 60617, 60618, 60619, 60620, 60621, 60622, 60623, 60624, 60625, 60626, 60628, 60629, 60630, 60631, 60632, 60633, 60634, 60636, 60637, 60638, 60639, 60640, 60641, 60642, 60643, 60644, 60645, 60646, 60647, 60649, 60651, 60652, 60653, 60654, 60655, 60656, 60657, 60659, 60660, 60661, 60664, 60666, 60668, 60669, 60670, 60673, 60674, 60675, 60677, 60678, 60680, 60681, 60682, 60684, 60685, 60686, 60687, 60688, 60689, 60690, 60691, 60693, 60694, 60695, 60696, 60697, 60699, 60701
Figures are US Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year estimates for the ZIP code areas we cover in Chicago; state comparisons use the Illinois statewide estimate.
Related services
Need freeze & flood protection in Chicago?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.