This page is research
LA Trusted publishes this cost guide so you can budget from published figures. It does not thaw or repair pipes, it does not dispatch anyone, and it sets none of the prices above.
New Jersey cost guide
Thawing a frozen pipe that has not split runs $100 to $200 (Modernize); a burst pipe repair runs $200 to $3,000, about $500 on average (Angi, 2026). In New Jersey American Water's area the pipe from the curb stop to your house is yours, and the company does not thaw it.

These are published market figures, not LA Trusted prices. The NJ lines come from ProMatcher's New Jersey plumbing report, New Jersey American Water and New Jersey's construction code. "No NJ figure confirmed" means we did not find a New Jersey figure for that job that we could open at its source; the US figure beside it is national. Every figure was read on October 25, 2026 and is named to its source in the tables below.
Last updated October 25, 2026. LA Trusted Partners routes plumbing requests to independent providers after your consent — it does not thaw or repair pipes, it does not dispatch plumbers, and it does not set, quote or guarantee any provider's pricing, availability, response time or workmanship. Every price below comes from a cited published source, with the date it shows or the date we read it. Utility rules come only from New Jersey American Water's own pages, insurance wording only from the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, and permit and license rules only from New Jersey's code.
It turns on one question: did the pipe split? If it only froze, a plumber thaws it and checks it. Modernize (August 12, 2026) puts that at $100 to $200 when the pipe is easy to reach, and Angi (October 6, 2026) says thawing is typically billed as a flat fee of $100.
If it split, the price is a repair. Angi's 2026 range for a burst pipe is $200 to $3,000, with $500 as the national average and up to $5,000 for underground pipe or major water damage. ConsumerAffairs and Modernize both publish $150 to $5,000 for frozen pipe repairs with about $500 typical, and Fixr (2022) gives $200 to $1,000 for most burst pipe repairs.
No source we could open publishes a New Jersey frozen-pipe price. The closest is ProMatcher's New Jersey plumbing report: residential plumbers at $92.99 an hour on average ($87.13 to $98.85) plus parts, and faucet, fixture and pipe repairs at a $200 flat rate ($100 to $300). It is undated and not specific to frozen pipes, so use it to check the labor line, not the whole bill.
| Source | Published figure | What it covers | Dated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angi, national | $200 – $3,000; $500 average; up to $5,000 | Burst pipe repair with a plumbing pro, 2026 data. Thawing frozen pipes is "typically billed as a flat fee of $100"; emergency call fees add $100 – $300. | Updated October 6, 2026 |
| Modernize, national | $150 – $5,000; about $500 average | Frozen pipe repair. Thawing a pipe that is not damaged: $100 – $200 when it is easy to reach. | Updated August 12, 2026 |
| ConsumerAffairs, national | $150 – $5,000; $500 average | Frozen pipe repair; "around $100" for a plumber to thaw pipes, $250 – $500 if they burst or leak. | Updated May 7, 2024 |
| Fixr, national | $200 – $1,000; $500 average | Burst pipe repair; $150 for a minor fix, up to $2,000 for new pipe that is hard to reach; a flat $100 thaw. | Updated August 19, 2022 |
| ProMatcher, New Jersey | $92.99 an hour ($87.13 – $98.85); $200 flat ($100 – $300) | Residential plumbing contractors in New Jersey, plus parts; faucets, fixtures and pipes installed or repaired. Not frozen-pipe specific. | Undated; read October 25, 2026 |
Most of the bill is labor and access. Angi says labor is roughly 80% of a burst pipe repair. A split copper line in an open basement ceiling is a short job; the same split inside a finished wall means opening the wall first, and a break between the curb and the house can mean digging. Water that ran before the main was shut off adds a second bill for drying and rebuilding, which the water damage restoration cost guide prices.
That is the split showing itself. New Jersey American Water says freezing can often cause unseen cracks that leak only once the pipe thaws. Shut the main again, then price it as a repair, not a thaw: Angi's $150 to $250 a linear foot for new pipe, labor included, is the line to check.
New Jersey American Water names the places to check before the cold sets in: crawl spaces, unheated rooms, basements, garages and exterior walls. Those are also the places where the repair price changes most, because the plumber has to reach the pipe before fixing it.
An outside faucet is the cheapest freeze to fix. HomeAdvisor (June 20, 2026) puts swapping a hose bib at $100 to $200 and a frost-free one at $150 to $500, and says a frost-free spigot won't crack under pressure if water inside freezes.

| Where the pipe froze | Angi (2026 data) | Modernize | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside a wall | $150 – $500 | $150 – $500 | Angi adds drywall repair at $50 – $75 per square foot on top of the plumbing work. |
| Kitchen | $150 – $500 | $200 – $600 | Modernize: kitchen repairs often involve cabinets or appliances. Pipes in exterior walls are a freezing point New Jersey American Water names. |
| Bathroom | $150 – $800 | — | Angi: under-sink pipes are the easiest; pipes under a toilet, shower or tub take more labor. |
| Basement | $200 – $600; up to $4,500 in concrete | $100 – $400 | Modernize: unfinished basements usually offer easier access. |
| Main line (curb to house) | $150 – $2,000 | $500 – $2,000+ underground or exterior | Often means digging. In New Jersey American Water's area this line is the customer's from the curb stop. |
| Outside faucet (hose bib) | — | $15 – $60 for outdoor faucets and hoses | HomeAdvisor (June 20, 2026): $100 – $200 to swap a hose bib, $150 – $500 for a frost-free one. |
Angi (updated October 6, 2026), Modernize (updated August 12, 2026) and HomeAdvisor (updated June 20, 2026), all read October 25, 2026. The Modernize outdoor figure is for the faucet and hose parts, not a plumber's visit.
A frozen-pipe invoice is usually a few lines added together, which makes it easier to compare two quotes line by line. Modernize breaks it down like this, and Angi's 2026 figures fill in the per-foot pipe cost and the emergency fee.
| Line on the bill | Typical range | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service call | $50 – $150 | The visit and the diagnosis | Modernize, Aug 12, 2026 |
| Thawing | $100 – $200 | Heat on the pipe and a check for cracks | Modernize, Aug 12, 2026 |
| New pipe section | $150 – $250 a linear foot | Cutting out the split piece and joining new pipe, labor and material | Angi, Oct 6, 2026 |
| Labor | $45 – $200 an hour | Angi says labor is about 80% of a burst pipe repair | Angi, Oct 6, 2026 |
| Emergency call fee | $100 – $300 | On top of the base rate | Angi, Oct 6, 2026 |
| After-hours premium | +20% to 50% | Nights, weekends, extreme cold | Modernize, Aug 12, 2026 |
| Water damage repair | $500 – $5,000+ | Drywall, flooring, insulation; a separate trade | Modernize, Aug 12, 2026 |
| New pipe | Angi (2026 data) | Fixr (2022) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 linear foot | $150 – $250 | $150 – $250 |
| 2 linear feet | $300 – $350 | $300 – $350 |
| 5 linear feet | $750 – $1,250 | $750 – $1,250 |
| 8 linear feet | $1,200 – $2,000 | $1,200 – $2,000 |
Angi (October 6, 2026) and Fixr (August 19, 2022) publish the same per-length figures, labor and material together. Material alone is $0.50 to $30 a linear foot depending on the pipe, per Angi.
The emergency fee and the wall. Angi lists an emergency call fee of $100 to $300 on top of the base rate, and Modernize puts the after-hours premium at 20% to 50% for nights, weekends and extreme cold. Opening and patching the wall or ceiling is often not in the plumber's price: Modernize's tip is to ask whether patching and repainting are included.
New Jersey American Water supplies Elizabeth (its Liberty system report), and its rights and responsibilities page draws the line. The company owns and maintains the service line from the water main to the curb stop, and the curb stop valve itself. The customer owns and maintains the service line from the curb stop or curb line to the building, and all the plumbing inside.
The meter is the company's, but the same page says the customer is responsible for "assuring that it is protected from damage, including damage caused by freezing." For an outside meter pit, the company owns the pit for single meters up to 2 inches, and the customer keeps the pit visible and is responsible for all the plumbing within it. The company's cold weather page adds: "If your pipes do freeze, we do not thaw our frozen meters or service lines."
On a frozen meter, the company's cold weather leaflet says the homeowner is responsible for the cost to replace or repair it, based on the size of the meter. That leaflet is marked NJ and dated December 2012, and we did not find the current fee published, so ask the company before you assume a number. If another utility serves your street, its own terms apply.
In hotels and multiple dwellings, N.J.A.C. 5:10-14.4 requires every unit to be kept at least 68°F from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and at least 65°F overnight, from October 1 to May 15. It makes the owner responsible for supplying the fuel and keeping the heating system working, unless a tenant whose unit has its own separately billed heating equipment agrees in writing to supply that heat. Who pays for a frozen pipe in a rental depends on your lease and the facts, which this page cannot judge. The New Jersey heat law guide explains which code covers your building and who to call.

Often, if the house was heated. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance publishes a one-page homeowners insurance summary of notable coverages and exclusions. It lists "Sudden and accidental water damage" as covered, and under what the policy does not cover it lists "Freezing pipes (unless water was shut off or building was heated)" and "Losses if your house is vacant for the number of days specified by your policy." The renters summary carries the same freezing line.
DOBI's 2015 winter insurance release put it this way: "Frozen pipes caused by extreme cold may be covered so long as the damage is not caused by the homeowner's negligence." The summary itself says your policy is the contract that governs your legal rights, so read its own wording and your deductible before you file.
What that means in practice: the claim is stronger when the heat was on and the house was lived in, and weaker for a cold, empty house with the water left on. Photos, the plumber's invoice naming the cause, and the date the heat failed all help.
DOBI homeowners summary (Exhibit A), read October 25, 2026. A summary, not your policy.
What you do before a plumber arrives decides how big the second bill is. These steps come from the company's cold weather page and its January 23, 2026 storm notice.
Find the main shut-off before you need it. The company says that in many homes it is near the water meter or close to where the water pipe enters the home. To test it, close it slowly: a ball valve generally needs a quarter turn, and a gate valve turns clockwise. If no water comes out of any faucet, you found it. If it does not close easily, it may need servicing.

For a like-for-like repair, usually no permit. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code treats fixing a leak by replacing the piping, and swapping a hose bib, as ordinary plumbing maintenance. A job that reroutes pipe or adds a new line is different: ask your town's construction office.
The license rule is separate. The code says plumbing work is not to be undertaken except by people licensed to do it, with one exception for a homeowner on his or her own single-family home. Before anyone cuts a pipe, look the license up in the NJ license and registration lookup, with the steps in how to check a contractor in New Jersey.
Read on N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7 and N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15, October 25, 2026.
New Jersey American Water's advice has two stages: what to do before the cold sets in, and what to do once temperatures stay below freezing. Last winter's example of the second: on January 23, 2026, New Jersey American Water announced it was preparing for a forecast snowstorm and freezing wintry mix, and told customers to locate the main shut-off, wrap exposed pipes and keep outside meter pits closed and covered with snow.
The company's advice is to do the cheap things before the cold sets in: drain and shut off sprinkler systems, find the freezing points, label the main valve, close off crawl spaces and drafts, and wrap exposed pipes with insulation or heat tape. Its 2012 leaflet adds one for long trips: ask the company to turn the water off and hire a plumber to drain the system, so a furnace failure leaves no water in the pipes to freeze. It notes a reconnection fee to turn the water back on.
If an outside faucet has frozen before, HomeAdvisor puts a frost-free replacement at $150 to $500 (June 20, 2026): about what Angi puts a single accessible basement burst at ($200 to $600), before any water damage. In New Jersey, a replacement hose bib with an approved atmospheric vacuum breaker counts as ordinary plumbing maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7.
Two frozen-pipe bills can differ by more than the repair, because one includes the wall, the emergency fee and a second visit and the other does not. Put each line against the published ranges. To check the labor line on its own, the plumber cost guide has New Jersey hourly rates.
LA Trusted publishes this cost guide so you can budget from published figures. It does not thaw or repair pipes, it does not dispatch anyone, and it sets none of the prices above.
A frozen pipe goes in as a plumbing request. Coverage depends on the town and the job, and your contact information is shared with a matched independent provider only after you agree to the disclosure.
The diagnosis, the repair, any permit, the warranty and the customer terms come from the independent provider. LA Trusted's standards ask that a provider's business identity and service area be checkable, and that licensing where applicable, insurance evidence and complaint history be checked before routing.
Shut the main first. Then send a plumbing request and say it is a frozen or burst pipe: the town, where the pipe is, whether the water is off, and whether the pipe has split. If a plumbing provider in our network takes the job in your town, that provider calls you back.
LA Trusted is not emergency dispatch, coverage depends on the town and the job, and a request is not a guarantee that a provider is available. LA Trusted does not do the work itself and does not promise a response time, so the quote and any warranty come from the provider who calls you. For a life-safety emergency, call 911 or your utility first.
Water still running? The emergency plumber page has the first-five-minutes steps and the emergency request form. Already have a quote? Check it against the published ranges.
Use the emergency request, price the drying and rebuild, or check a plumber's labor rate.
If the pipe has not split, Modernize puts a professional thaw at $100 to $200 (August 12, 2026), and Angi says thawing is typically billed as a flat fee of $100 (October 6, 2026). If it has burst, Angi puts the repair at $200 to $3,000, with $500 as the 2026 national average. In New Jersey, ProMatcher's state report lists residential plumbers at $92.99 an hour on average plus parts. These are published market figures, not LA Trusted prices.
Angi's 2026 figures: $200 to $3,000, about $500 on average, and up to $5,000 for underground pipe or major water damage (updated October 6, 2026). New pipe runs $150 to $250 a linear foot with labor, so 8 feet comes to $1,200 to $2,000. Fixr's older page (August 19, 2022) gives $200 to $1,000 for most repairs. Drying and rebuilding the room is a separate bill.
The ice melts once the pipe warms up, but that is when a split pipe starts to leak. New Jersey American Water warns that freezing can often cause unseen cracks in pipes or joints that leak when thawed, so it says to shut the water off first, thaw with warm air, and turn the water back on slowly while checking for leaks.
Nothing you pour down a drain reaches a frozen water supply pipe, because drains and supply lines are separate pipes. New Jersey American Water's steps are to shut the water off, then apply heat by warming the air around the frozen pipe or applying heat to the pipe: a hair dryer, a space heater that is never left unattended, or hot water. It says not to use kerosene heaters or open flames.
You can lose water at the taps that pipe feeds, and the pipe can split. New Jersey American Water says freezing can cause unseen cracks that leak when the pipe thaws. Fixr says a burst pipe can send as many as 10 gallons of water a minute into a home, which is why the first step is always to shut off the main.
On your own single-family home, N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15 lets the homeowner do plumbing work that otherwise needs a licensed plumber. New Jersey's ordinary-maintenance rule, N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7, lists repair of leaks involving the replacement of piping and replacement of hose bib valves as work that needs no permit application. Rerouting or adding piping is not ordinary maintenance. Angi and Modernize both describe clamps, epoxy and tape as temporary fixes; Angi recommends a licensed plumber for the repair itself.
Angi puts a burst water main line, the pipe between the street and the house, at $150 to $2,000 to repair, and full main line replacement at $50 to $250 a linear foot depending on trench or trenchless methods (October 6, 2026). In New Jersey American Water's area, the customer owns and maintains that line from the curb stop or curb line to the building.
Angi's 2026 page puts repiping a house at $1,500 to $15,000, with most homeowners paying around $7,500, and an average of $1,200 per fixture to repipe a single fixture. It prices by home size and pipe material but does not give a figure for a 2,000 square foot house. A burst pipe repair, by Angi's figures, usually means replacing a section of pipe, priced by the foot.
No. Its cold weather page says: "If your pipes do freeze, we do not thaw our frozen meters or service lines." Its rights and responsibilities page says the customer owns and maintains the service line from the curb stop or curb line to the building, and must protect the company's meter from damage, including damage caused by freezing.
In New Jersey American Water's area, the homeowner. The company's cold-weather leaflet (marked NJ, December 2012) says that if a homeowner's meter freezes, the homeowner is responsible for the cost to replace or repair it, based on the size of the meter. We did not find the current fee published. The company's current rights page still puts protecting the meter from freezing on the customer.
It depends on whether the house was heated or the water shut off. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance's one-page homeowners summary lists sudden and accidental water damage as covered, and lists "Freezing pipes (unless water was shut off or building was heated)" and losses while the house is vacant past the days your policy sets as not covered. A 2015 DOBI release says frozen pipes caused by extreme cold may be covered so long as the damage is not caused by the homeowner's negligence. Your policy is the contract, so read its own wording.
Usually not for a like-for-like repair. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7 lists repair of leaks involving the replacement of piping as ordinary plumbing maintenance, which may be done without filing a permit application. Adding, altering, replacing or relocating water supply piping is not ordinary maintenance, so a reroute or a new line is a question for your town's construction office.
A burst one is. Angi calls a burst pipe one of the most common home emergencies and says to turn off the water supply and call a plumber the moment you suspect one. A frozen pipe that has not split yet still needs the main shut off before anyone thaws it, in New Jersey American Water's own steps.
Every source in this list was checked on October 25, 2026, and every figure taken from it re-read that day. Naming a company here is not an endorsement and does not mean it is an LA Trusted Partners provider.
Shut the main, then start one documented plumbing request. You stay in control of whether your information is shared with a matched independent provider, and LA Trusted does not promise that a provider in your town is available or how fast anyone calls.