5 services · New Hampshire
Leaks, pipes & freezing in New Hampshire
New Hampshire's long, cold, snowy winters bring deep frost that freezes pipes in exterior walls, unheated hallways and porches, especially in older multi-family buildings in Manchester and Nashua.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Statewide conditions
Leaks, pipes & freezing in New Hampshire: what to know
Many homes are older and rely on private wells, where pumps and pressure tanks need protection from freezing. In cities, Manchester Water Works draws from Lake Massabesic and Pennichuck Water Works serves Nashua.
New Hampshire requires state-licensed plumbers, and city building departments issue permits. Insulating exposed lines and keeping heat on in every unit prevent most winter damage.
Manchester's tenement blocks and triple-deckers on the West Side and East Side date from the Amoskeag mill era, with plumbing in unheated stairwells that freezes first. Nashua's 1980s and 90s homes in South Nashua often have bedrooms over garages where supply lines freeze.
- Climate
- Hard freezes are a regular part of winter in New Hampshire, so pipes in exterior walls, garages, crawl spaces and attics need protection every year, and outdoor faucets and sprinkler lines must be drained before the first freeze.
- Typical foundations
- Many homes are older and rely on private wells and septic systems, and most have basements. Most common: basements.
Leaks, pipes & freezing services
Burst pipe repair
Turn off the main water shutoff first, then open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the lines. A plumber cuts out the split section, replaces it, and checks the rest of that pipe run, because one freeze rarely damages only one spot.
Frozen pipe thawing
If a faucet gives no water or only a trickle after a hard freeze, a pipe is frozen. Leave that faucet open, warm the area gently, and call a plumber if you can't find the frozen section or if it's inside a wall, because a split pipe will leak as soon as it thaws.
Leak detection
Turn off every fixture and watch the water meter's leak indicator. If it moves, water is leaking somewhere. A plumber uses pressure tests, acoustic listening and thermal imaging to find the leak so only a small section of wall or floor has to be opened.
Repiping
Repiping replaces a home's water supply lines, usually because old galvanized steel has corroded or polybutylene is at risk of failing. Most repipes today use PEX, take two to five days, and are done through small wall openings rather than gutting the house.
Water line repair
The water service line runs from the curb stop near the street to your house, buried below the frost line. A leak shows up as a soggy patch in the yard, low pressure throughout the house, or a meter that never stops. Repair means finding the leak, then fixing that spot or replacing the line.
Leaks, pipes & freezing by city in New Hampshire
Local pages cover each city's water provider, permit office and housing. Not listed? Check your ZIP code below.
Leaks, pipes & freezing questions in New Hampshire
Do plumbers need a state license in New Hampshire?
Should I turn off the water if a pipe bursts?
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the leaks, pipes & freezing guide.
More plumbing in New Hampshire
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