Frozen Pipes After a Furnace Failure in New Hampshire

When heat stops, start with the simple furnace checks that can restore it quickly, such as the thermostat setting, the furnace power switch, and the breaker panel. If those do not help, call for service and describe the situation clearly, including that pipes are at risk, so the visit can be prioritized. While you wait, focus on holding warmth in the home.

Close off unused rooms, shut doors to rooms with vulnerable pipes only if that does not trap cold air around them, and keep interior doors open where pipes run through interior walls so warm air can reach them. If you have a safe secondary heat source, use it in the rooms where pipes are most exposed, and never use an open flame, a grill, or a generator indoors, since those create serious safety hazards.

• Try simple furnace checks first, then call for service promptly.
• Tell the technician that pipes are at risk from the outage.
• Keep warm air moving toward pipes in cold walls and spaces.
• Never use grills, open flames, or generators inside the home.

When heat returns, do not assume pipes survived simply because water flows again. Walk the home and look for damp spots, stains on ceilings and walls, puddles in basements and crawl spaces, and any smell of dampness that was not there before. Check under sinks, around washing machines, and near water heaters, since leaks often appear in places that are easy to overlook.

If a pipe is still frozen, thaw it gently with warm air from a hair dryer or a warm towel, starting near the faucet and working back, and never use an open flame. If you find a burst pipe, shut off the main water supply, open faucets to relieve pressure, and call a plumber. Even a small leak can soak insulation and framing over time, so prompt attention matters even when the damage looks minor.

After heat returns, hidden spaces deserve a careful look, since leaks often start where no one normally goes. Check crawl spaces, basements, attic corners, and the wall cavities around pipes for damp insulation, stains, warped wood, or a musty smell that was not there before. Bring a flashlight, move slowly, and look behind water heaters, washing machines, and under sinks, where a slow leak can soak framing for days before it shows in a living room.

If you find dampness, dry the area as well as you can, improve airflow, and watch it over the following days to see whether it dries or grows worse. Damp insulation and framing can develop mold over time if left wet, so a persistent damp spot is worth a professional look even when no active drip is visible. Early attention in a hidden space prevents a small thaw leak from becoming a larger repair later.