Hear from Our Customers
When your pipes freeze, you’re looking at more than just an inconvenience. You’re staring down potential thousands in water damage, foundation issues, and emergency repair bills that can hit $300+ per hour.
But here’s what happens when we handle it right. Your water flows again within hours, not days. The damage stops before it spreads to your floors, walls, or foundation. And you pay a fair price for professional work – no surprise fees, no inflated emergency rates just because you’re in a tough spot.
That’s the difference between a plumbing disaster and a problem that gets solved.
Murray Plumbing has been solving plumbing problems for homeowners who need straight answers and reliable work. We understand that even in California’s mild climate, Sutter County can see those unexpected cold snaps that catch pipes off guard.
What sets us apart isn’t just our technical expertise – it’s how we treat you during a stressful situation. No attitude, no inflated emergency pricing, no surprise fees after the work is done. Just professional service from plumbers who know that your emergency is our priority.
We’ve built our reputation on being the plumbers Sutter residents call when they need someone they can trust.
When you call us about frozen pipes, we start by asking the right questions to understand exactly what you’re dealing with. Are you getting any water flow? Where do you think the freeze happened? This helps us come prepared with the right tools and approach.
Once we arrive, we locate the frozen section using professional techniques that don’t involve guesswork or trial and error. We then safely thaw the pipe using controlled methods that won’t cause thermal shock or additional damage.
After we restore water flow, we inspect the entire system to check for any damage that occurred during the freeze. If we find cracks or weak spots, we’ll explain your options clearly and help you decide the best approach to prevent future problems.
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Our frozen pipe service covers the complete solution – not just the immediate fix. We thaw your pipes safely, inspect for damage, and test the system to ensure everything’s working properly before we leave.
For Sutter County homeowners, we also provide prevention recommendations specific to our area’s climate patterns. While we don’t see the extreme cold that northern states experience, those overnight temperature drops can still catch your pipes vulnerable – especially in unheated areas like garages, crawl spaces, or exterior walls.
We’ll show you which pipes are most at risk in your home and explain simple steps that can save you from future emergencies. Because the best frozen pipe repair is the one you never need.
Yes, pipes can absolutely freeze in Sutter, even with our generally mild weather. While we don’t experience the prolonged freezing temperatures of northern states, those occasional cold snaps can drop temperatures below 32°F long enough to freeze water in your pipes.
It only takes a few hours of below-freezing temperatures to cause problems, especially in unheated areas like garages, crawl spaces, or pipes near exterior walls. The risk increases significantly when temperatures drop below 20°F, which can happen during our coldest winter nights.
The key difference here is that California homes often aren’t built with the same cold-weather protections as homes in consistently cold climates, making our pipes more vulnerable when temperatures do drop.
The cost depends on several factors, but most frozen pipe repairs in Sutter range from $150 to $500 for straightforward thawing and minor repairs. If the pipe has burst, costs can increase to $500-$1,000 or more, depending on the location and extent of damage.
Emergency service calls typically cost more than regular appointments, but we believe in fair pricing even during emergencies. We’ll give you an upfront estimate before starting any work, so you know what to expect.
The real cost to consider is what happens if you wait or try to handle it yourself. Water damage from a burst pipe can cost thousands to repair, and foundation damage can run $4,000-$10,000 or more. Professional repair is almost always the more economical choice.
First, don’t panic, but do act quickly. Turn off your main water supply to prevent flooding if a pipe bursts while you’re trying to thaw it. You can usually find this valve near your water meter or where the main line enters your house.
Open the faucet connected to the frozen pipe to allow water to flow once the ice melts and to relieve pressure in the system. If you can safely access the frozen section, you can try gentle warming with a hair dryer, but never use an open flame or high heat.
Call us right away, especially if you’re not getting any water flow or if you suspect the pipe may have already burst. The sooner we can assess the situation, the better chance we have of preventing serious damage.
For simple thawing of frozen pipes, we can often restore water flow within 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the location and severity of the freeze. If the pipes are easily accessible and haven’t burst, it’s typically a quick process.
If we discover that pipes have burst or cracked during freezing, repair time increases to 2-4 hours for most situations. Complex repairs involving pipes inside walls or underground can take longer and may require additional work to access the damaged area.
We always work efficiently to minimize disruption to your day, but we never rush the job. It’s better to take the time to do it right than to have you dealing with the same problem again next week.
Absolutely, and prevention is much less expensive than emergency repairs. The most important step is keeping your home heated to at least 55°F, even when you’re away during cold weather. This simple step prevents most residential pipe freezing.
For pipes in unheated areas like garages or crawl spaces, adding insulation is highly effective and inexpensive. We can show you which pipes are most vulnerable in your home and recommend the right type of insulation for each situation.
During cold snaps, let faucets drip slightly to keep water moving through the pipes. Moving water is much less likely to freeze than standing water. We’ll provide you with a complete prevention checklist specific to your home’s layout and Sutter County’s climate patterns.
Most homeowner’s insurance policies do cover sudden pipe bursts and resulting water damage, including damage caused by freezing. However, coverage typically depends on the circumstances and whether the freezing was due to negligence.
If you maintained heat in your home and took reasonable precautions, insurance usually covers the damage. But if pipes froze because you turned off heat while away or failed to maintain the plumbing system, coverage might be denied.
We recommend checking with your insurance company about your specific policy before you need it. We can also provide documentation of the cause and our repair work to help with your claim if needed. The key is addressing frozen pipes quickly to minimize damage and demonstrate that you acted responsibly.
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