Busted Pipes In Walls Caused By Freeze

IYKYK!

Water leaks during Snowmageddon 2025 around Lafayette, Youngsville, Broussard and the rest of Acadiana almost all occurred on copper pipe above hose spigots inside outside walls.

Most leaks occurred on copper pipe that was insulated AND inside well insulated walls. But with temperatures down to 3, 4 and 5 degrees - ice built up inside the copper pipes anyway.

The pressure on the dead-end of the pipe was too great and caused the copper pipe to split open slightly, allowing water to pour out once the ice thawed out.

Most people could hear the hissing sound of the water leak and see the water as it leaked out and showed at the bottom of the wall.

Water leak repair jobs involved cutting open walls to gain access to the busted copper pipe. Fortunately, only Sheetrock had to be cut open in most cases. But occasionally bricks on an outside wall had to be taken out because the leak was behind a one-piece fiberglass tub/shower unit or it was otherwise inaccessible from inside a house.

In most cases a small slit in the copper pipe occurred on the air chambers above the hose spigots inside a wall.

The repair involved cutting the vertical air chamber and capping the pipe.

Location: Lafayette, LA