Frozen pipe you cannot find or reach: frozen pipe, no water

Why this happens

The American Red Cross and Moen both say to call a licensed plumber if you cannot locate the frozen area, if it is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe. This Old House adds that pipes inside walls are harder to reach and cannot be checked for damage before they thaw.

What to do right now

Safety first. Do not use a torch or any open flame, and do not use boiling water. Stay out of standing water and keep electrical devices away from anything wet.
Leave the faucets open. State Farm says that if you turn on the faucets and nothing comes out, leave them on and contact your plumber.
If every tap in the house is dry, close the main shutoff first, as Travelers, Protect Your Pipes and This Old House advise. Turn it by hand only, and never force it.
Open cabinet doors and turn up the thermostat to warm the rooms, as This Old House and Family Handyman suggest.
Check the other faucets for more frozen pipes. The Red Cross says that if one pipe freezes, others may too.
Call a licensed plumber. Until they arrive, watch for wet spots and listen for leaks, because Family Handyman says pipes often burst as frozen sections start to melt.

When to stop. If you see water leaking or pooling, close the main if it turns easily by hand, keep clear of standing water near anything electrical, and call the plumber right away. Never force a stuck shutoff.

What to tell the plumber

Which taps are dry and which trickle.
Where you think the pipes run, such as an outside wall, attic, crawl space or garage.
When it stopped, and whether you closed the main.
What you already tried.

Build the full list: what to tell the plumber.

Start this troubleshooter over

References (every fact above comes from one of these pages)

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