Burst or Frozen Pipe in Sherman? Do This First.

If a pipe has burst, shut off the water first. The main shutoff is usually where the line enters the house, in a garage, utility room or near the water heater, or at the meter box by the street. Then turn off the water heater, open a faucet at the lowest point to drain the lines, and move belongings away from the water.

Free referral to an independent local plumbing company for the repair.

Call (903) 467-5880

If a pipe is frozen but not leaking, open the faucet it feeds so water can move when it thaws, and warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer or a space heater kept at a safe distance. Never use an open flame.

National cost data from HomeGuide puts a burst pipe repair at $400 to $2,000, or about $150 to $250 per linear foot of pipe, before any water-damage repair.

National typical price: $400–$2,000

National typical range (HomeGuide): $400–$2,000 for a burst pipe repair, or about $150–$250 per linear foot. Drywall, flooring and water damage repairs are extra.

How a plumber usually handles frozen & burst pipe repair

A plumber will usually find the split, cut out the damaged section, and replace it with new pipe and fittings. Freezes often damage more than one spot, so expect them to pressure-test the system after the first repair to look for others.

Pipes in exterior walls, unheated garages, attics and crawlspaces are the usual problem areas, along with outdoor hose bibs and irrigation backflow devices. Ask the plumber which runs in your home are exposed and whether insulation, heat tape or rerouting makes sense.

If you plan to file an insurance claim, take photos and keep the damaged pipe section. Many policies cover sudden freeze damage but exclude damage from neglect, so ask your insurer early.

What the February 2021 freeze showed in Grayson County

North Texas homes aren't built for long hard freezes, and February 2021 showed it. NOAA station data for Sherman, compiled by Extreme Weather Watch, shows a low of -3°F on February 16, 2021, and a daytime high of only 9°F the day before. The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth recorded 139 consecutive hours at or below freezing at DFW Airport from February 13 to 19.

Sherman's building code addresses one common freeze casualty directly: backflow devices must be protected from freezing by insulation, heat or both, and the city requires a permit before a backflow device is removed or replaced. If your irrigation backflow cracked in a freeze, the replacement needs a permit.

Before the next cold snap, know where your main shutoff is, disconnect garden hoses, cover outdoor faucets, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, and let a faucet drip on the coldest nights.

Sources for this page

Sources: HomeGuide burst pipe costs · Sherman 2021 daily temperatures (NOAA data via Extreme Weather Watch) · NWS Fort Worth: February 2021 winter storm · City of Sherman Code Art. 3.07 (backflow devices)

What moves the price

Where the problem is (a trap under a sink vs. a line under a slab or in the yard)
Whether a camera, hydro-jetting or leak-locating equipment is needed
Pipe material and age (older cast-iron, galvanized or clay vs. PVC, PEX or copper)
Permit and inspection fees where the city requires them
After-hours or weekend calls, which plumbing companies often price higher
Repairing walls, floors or landscaping after the plumbing is fixed

See our Sherman pricing breakdown for more detail.

How the referral works

Call or send the form.
Tell us what the plumbing is doing and where you are in Sherman, Denison or the rest of Grayson County. Calls go to voicemail, so leave your name, number and the problem.
We pass your request on.
We send your details to an independent local plumbing company that serves your area. If we can't place your request, we'll tell you, so you can call someone else.
The plumbing company gives you its price.
The company contacts you, looks at the job and gives you its own price. You decide whether to hire it. Sherman Plumbing Guys doesn't charge you anything.

Why homeowners use Sherman Plumbing Guys

One call or one form instead of working down a list of numbers.
It's free to you. Sherman Plumbing Guys doesn't charge homeowners for a referral.
You deal directly with the plumbing company, and its price, work and warranty are between you and that company.
Plain local information on Sherman and Denison permits, water supply and older-home plumbing, with sources.
No pressure. You decide whether to hire anyone.

What to know before anyone starts work

Sherman Plumbing Guys doesn't perform plumbing work and doesn't hold a plumbing licence. The company that does the work is responsible for its own licence, insurance, permits, price and workmanship.

Before anyone works on your plumbing, ask for the Responsible Master Plumber's licence number and look it up with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

We use your details only to handle your request, and we don't sell them.

Questions we get a lot

What should I do first when a pipe bursts?

Shut off the main water valve, turn off the water heater, open a low faucet to drain the lines, and move belongings away from the water. Then call for a repair.

How much does burst pipe repair cost?

National typical range from HomeGuide: $400–$2,000, or about $150–$250 per linear foot of pipe, before water-damage repairs.

Does replacing a freeze-cracked backflow device need a permit in Sherman?

Yes. Sherman's code requires a permit before removing or replacing any backflow device, with an inspection afterwards.

Leak, clog or no hot water?

Call or send the form. We'll pass your request to an independent local plumbing company, and that company gives you its own price.