Burst pipes in South Milwaukee and Oak Creek usually happen when water freezes in a line that runs through an unheated space, such as an outside wall, a garage or a crawl space. If a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve, cut power to wet areas, and get the water out quickly so materials can dry.

Late October is the right time to think about this. The hard cold is still ahead, hoses are still attached, and the jobs that prevent a burst pipe take an afternoon.

South Milwaukee and Oak Creek sit side by side on the Lake Michigan shore in Milwaukee County, and they share the same winters. Their homes are a different story, which changes where pipes are likely to freeze.

Why do pipes burst when it gets cold?

Water expands as it turns to ice. When a section of pipe freezes solid, pressure builds in the water trapped between the ice and the closed faucet, and the pipe splits at its weakest point.

The split is often some distance from the frozen spot. It also may not leak right away. Many homeowners find the break hours later, when the ice thaws and water starts running through the crack.

That is why burst pipes are so often discovered after a cold snap ends, or after a family comes home from a trip.

How cold does it get in South Milwaukee and Oak Creek?

Cold enough to freeze an unprotected pipe many nights each winter. Milwaukee's long-term climate normals show an average January low of about 17 degrees, and an average of nearly 49 inches of snow a year.

Lake Michigan takes some of the edge off temperatures close to the shore, but it does not keep the area above freezing. The coldest nights tend to come with strong wind, and wind drives cold air through small gaps in siding, sill plates and garage doors, right where pipes run.

Where do pipes freeze in South Milwaukee homes?

South Milwaukee is the older of the two communities. It incorporated as a village in 1892 and became a city in 1897, and it grew up around heavy industry, including the mining equipment maker Bucyrus.

Many homes near the older center of town have been through a long list of winters. In houses of that age, watch these spots:

• Supply lines that run along the top of a basement wall, near the rim of the foundation where cold air leaks in
• Pipes in kitchen and bathroom walls that face outside, especially after a remodel moved a sink
• Older outdoor faucets that do not drain themselves when shut off
• Plumbing in enclosed porches and additions built without full heat
• Radiator lines in homes with boiler heat, which hold water even when a room is closed off

Where do pipes freeze in Oak Creek homes?

Oak Creek is a younger city. It incorporated in 1955, and U.S. Census Bureau counts show its population rising from about 28,000 in 2000 to more than 36,000 in 2020, so many of its homes are newer than those in South Milwaukee.

Newer construction is better insulated, but it has its own weak points:

• Bathrooms and bonus rooms built over an attached garage, where pipes run through the garage ceiling
• Water lines to a utility sink or hose connection inside the garage
• Plumbing for a kitchen that bumps out past the foundation
• Fire sprinkler lines in townhomes, condominiums and commercial buildings
• Vacant homes and units between owners or tenants, where the heat is turned down

A garage door left open on a bitter night is one of the most common reasons a newer home ends up with a frozen line.

What is the cold weather checklist for South Milwaukee and Oak Creek homes?

Work through this list before the ground freezes. Most items follow the American Red Cross guidance on frozen pipes.

• Disconnect, drain and store garden hoses. A hose left attached traps water in the faucet and the pipe behind it.
• Close the inside valve to each outdoor faucet, then open the faucet. This lets the water left in the line drain out.
• Find your main water shutoff and tag it. In an emergency, everyone in the house should be able to find it without searching.
• Insulate pipes in the basement, crawl space, attic and garage. Foam pipe sleeves slow heat loss in the places that get coldest.
• Seal gaps where pipes, cables and vents pass through outside walls. A small draft aimed at a pipe can freeze it.
• Keep the garage door closed in cold weather. This matters most if water lines run through the garage.
• Open sink cabinet doors on the coldest nights. Room heat reaches the pipes on outside walls.
• Let a cold faucet drip during severe cold. Moving water is harder to freeze.
• Hold the thermostat steady day and night. Turning it down overnight lets wall cavities get colder.
• Leave the heat at 55 degrees or higher when you travel. This is the Red Cross minimum for a home left empty in cold weather.
• Ask someone to check the house while you are away. A furnace that quits on day one of a trip can do a week of damage.

What should you do if a faucet stops running?

Treat it as a frozen pipe and act before it splits. Leave the faucet open so melting ice has somewhere to go.

Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, a heating pad or towels soaked in hot water, starting near the faucet and working back. Never use a torch or any open flame.

If you cannot find the frozen section, or it is inside a wall, call a plumber. Know where your main shutoff is before you start, in case the pipe is already cracked.

What should you do in the first hour after a pipe bursts?

Stop the water first, then make the area safe, then start documenting.

1. Close the main water shutoff valve.
2. Switch off electricity to wet rooms at the panel if you can reach it from a dry spot. Stay out of standing water where outlets or cords are wet.
3. Open faucets on the lowest level to drain what is left in the lines.
4. Take photos and video of the break, the water and anything damaged.
5. Move rugs, furniture, electronics and boxes to a dry area. Slip foil or plastic under furniture legs that sit on wet carpet.
6. If a ceiling is sagging with water, stay out from under it.
7. Call a plumber to repair the pipe, your insurance company to report the loss, and a restoration company to begin drying.

How is burst pipe water damage dried and repaired?

A supply line is under pressure, so a break can release a large amount of water in a short time. It runs down through floors and collects in ceilings, wall cavities and the basement.

Restoration starts with extraction. Crews pull standing water out of carpet and off hard floors, then map the wet areas with moisture meters and thermal imaging.

Wet insulation and badly swollen drywall or trim are usually removed. Framing, subfloors and many hardwood floors can often be dried in place with air movers and dehumidifiers.

Technicians take moisture readings each day and adjust the equipment until materials are back to a normal range. Repairs begin after the structure is dry, since closing up a damp wall leads to odor and mold later. The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold growth.

What should you tell your insurance company?

Report the loss as soon as the water is off. Give them the date and time you found it, what broke, and what you did to limit the damage.

Keep the failed section of pipe if the plumber cuts it out, and save receipts for any emergency work. Check your policy for the details, and ask your adjuster how it applies to a home that was vacant or unheated.

If a frozen or burst pipe has damaged your South Milwaukee or Oak Creek home, contact ServiceMaster Kwik Restore for water removal and drying. We are available 24/7.