🧊 Frozen Pipes: Prevent, Spot, and Thaw

When Fargo-Moorhead hits a below-zero stretch, pipes along outside walls and in unheated spaces are the first to go. Here's what the National Weather Service recommends.

Never thaw a pipe with an open flame.[2] And know where your main water shut-off is before you need it - if a pipe bursts, that's the first thing to turn.[1]

Before the cold

  • Insulate water lines in unheated spots: basement, crawl space, attic, garage, under sinks, along outside walls.[1]
  • Caulk cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes.[1]

During a cold snap

  • Open kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets so warm air reaches the pipes.[1]
  • Let faucets drip slowly - it relieves the pressure that builds between the faucet and an ice blockage.[1]
  • Going away? Keep the heat at 55°F or higher.[1]

If a pipe freezes

  • Turn on the faucet first - water will drip as the pipe warms.[2]
  • Warm it with a space heater, heating pad, electric hair dryer, or hot water on a cloth.[2]
  • Keep going until the water pressure is back to normal - or call a plumber.[2]

How cold is it, and how cold has the winter been? The wind dashboard has the current temperature and wind chill, and the below-zero tracker counts the cold nights.

Water main break or no water on your street?

That's the city's side, not yours: in Fargo, report it through FargoOne or Public Works; in Moorhead, Moorhead Public Service handles water outages; in West Fargo, call City Hall at (701) 515-5000. All the numbers are on our report-a-problem page.[3]

Need a plumber? Here's a short, hand-checked list of local plumbers. Nobody pays to be listed.

References

  1. National Weather Service - Home Preparedness Tips for Prolonged Frigid Cold
  2. National Weather Service - Essential Tasks After it Warms Up
  3. City of Fargo - Report a Challenge; City of Moorhead - Report a Concern; City of West Fargo - Report an Issue

More for Fargo-Moorhead

Below-Zero Days in Fargo How cold has Fargo been? Below-zero days this winter vs. normal, the coldest so far, and the most brutal winters since 1991 - from official NWS records. Is It Windy in Fargo, ND? Live wind conditions and forecast for Fargo-Moorhead, combining NOAA forecasts with real-time readings from Hector International Airport. How to Vote - Nov. 3 How to vote in Fargo, West Fargo, and Moorhead on Nov. 3, 2026 - ID and registration rules, early and absentee voting, and where to find your polling place.