Sewer Repair
Tree roots, cracked clay pipe and repeat backups in the line from your house to the street.
Serving Chicagoland Since 1993
Burst and Frozen Pipe Repair in Northbrook, IL
When a pipe splits, water moves fast. Shut off the main and call us, any time of day or night. We find the break, repair it and point out the other pipes at risk. Our headquarters is on Techny Road in Northbrook.
What to Do When a Pipe Bursts in Your Northbrook Home
Three things limit the damage while we're on the way:
1. Shut Off the Main
In most Northbrook homes, the main valve sits near the water meter where the line enters the basement or utility room. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
2. Keep Away From Wet Outlets
If water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, stay out of the water. Turn off power to that area only if you can reach the breaker safely.
3. Call Us, Day or Night
Our headquarters is on Techny Road and our line is open 24/7. Tell us where the water is coming from and we'll take it from there.
Signs of a Burst Pipe
A pipe that splits inside a wall or ceiling doesn't always gush. Look for these:
On Walls and Ceilings
- Water stains spreading on a ceiling under a bathroom or kitchen.
- Paint that bubbles or wallpaper that peels.
- Drywall that sags or feels soft.
On Floors
- Hardwood that cups or buckles.
- Carpet in a finished basement that's damp with no clear source.
- Water coming out from under cabinets or vanities.
Around Exposed Pipes
- A hissing sound near a pipe.
- Water spraying or dripping from a joint.
- Wet spots under pipes in the basement or crawl space.
Other Clues
- A water bill that jumps.
- The sound of running water when every fixture is off.
- A sudden drop in water pressure.
Seeing water come from a wall or ceiling? Shut off the main and call us 24/7, even if you're not sure it's a burst pipe.
Signs a Pipe Is Frozen
On a below-zero morning, a frozen pipe usually warns you before it splits:
A Faucet That Barely Trickles
If the kitchen or a bathroom over the garage gives you nothing on a frigid morning, the line feeding it has frozen somewhere.
Frost on an Exposed Pipe
Frost or ice on pipes in the garage, crawl space or an unheated corner of the basement means the water inside is close to freezing solid.
A Bulge or Hairline Crack
Ice has already stretched the pipe. It may hold while frozen and start leaking as it thaws.
Think a pipe is frozen? Leave the faucet open, never use an open flame to thaw it and call us before it thaws and splits.
Why Pipes Freeze in Northbrook Homes
The area averages about eight nights a year at or below zero, and cold snaps like the January 2019 polar vortex can last for days. These are the pipes that freeze first.
Pipes Over the Garage and in Exterior Walls
Many split-levels and two-story homes have a bathroom or bedroom over an attached garage. The pipes in that floor sit over cold air and freeze first.
Outdoor Spigots and Sprinkler Lines
A hose left on the spigot traps water in the line, and it freezes inside the wall. Irrigation lines that weren't blown out in fall can split too.
Older Pipe Materials
Galvanized steel in postwar homes and older copper are thinner after decades of use, so a freeze is more likely to split them.
The J. Blanton Difference773-724-9272
What Happens When You Call J. Blanton
A burst pipe is stressful enough. Here's what to expect once we're there.
1. Find Every Break
Freezes rarely split just one spot. We trace the line and check nearby pipes, opening as little drywall as we can.
2. A Flat Price for the Repair
You get one price before work begins, and we'll document the cause if you need it for an insurance claim.
3. Keep It From Happening Again
We'll point out other pipes at risk and what protects them, like insulation, rerouting a line out of a cold wall or a freeze-resistant spigot.
Customer Stories
Burst Pipe Repair Reviews
4.7 stars from 760 Google reviews for our Northbrook office.
★★★★★
"Im back here again, writing another review ! arrived at 8 , and out by 10, fixed our burst pipe for our outdoor spigot. Thank you Anthony C ! promp, polite , professional, and fast !"
★★★★★
"Edgar Herrera was a stellar representative for J Blanton’s. He addressed the broken water pipe in an efficient, timely manner. He offered approximate next steps. Definitely 5 stars!"
★★★★★
"Outstanding Work on a Tough Basement Job! I can’t say enough good things about this plumbing team. They tackled a very challenging pipe replacement job in our basement, and from start to finish, they were professional, skilled, and incredibly thorough. The space was tight, the old piping was a mess, and there were unexpected complications along the way but they handled everything with confidence and expertise. [...]"
Got Questions?
Burst Pipe Questions From Northbrook Homeowners
Disconnect hoses, keep the heat on, open cabinets on cold walls and let a faucet drip on the coldest nights.
Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain outdoor spigots in the fall. Keep the heat on, even when you're away, and don't let the garage get colder than it has to be if there are pipes above it. On nights near zero, open sink cabinets on exterior walls and let a faucet drip.
Open the faucet, warm the area gently and call before it thaws. Never use a flame.
Open the faucet it feeds so water can move once it thaws. Warm the area gently, like opening the door to a cold room or garage. Never use an open flame or a torch. If you can't find the frozen section, or it's inside a wall, call us before it splits.
Sudden bursts are often covered. Check your policy. We can document the cause.
A sudden, accidental pipe burst is often covered by a standard policy, while damage from a slow leak or lack of maintenance may not be. Check your policy or ask your insurer. We can document the cause of the break, which may support your claim.
It depends on where the break is and what it takes to reach it. You get a flat price first.
It depends on where the break is, how much wall or ceiling has to come open to reach it, the pipe material and how much pipe needs replacing. We give you a flat-rate price before any work begins, and financing is available.
Annual Protection Plan
Join the No Drip Club
Most plumbing problems start small. The No Drip Club brings a J. Blanton plumber to your home for regular maintenance, so small issues get caught before they turn into big repairs.
- Two Free Professional Maintenance Visits per Year
- 10% Discount on All General Plumbing & Sewer Services
- 5-Year Parts and Labor Warranty on Approved Projects
- VIP Priority Scheduling Status (Skip the Queue)
What We Fix
Plumbing Services in Northbrook
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Water Heaters
Repair and replacement for tank and tankless water heaters that leak, make noise or run out of hot water too fast.
Drain Cleaning
Slow or clogged kitchen, bathroom and basement drains, cleared and checked.
Faucets & Fixtures
Leaky faucets, worn-out shut-off valves and new kitchen and bathroom fixture installs.
Sump Pumps
Sump pump repair, replacement and battery backups for heavy rain and spring snowmelt.
Gas Lines & Fireplaces
Gas line repair, leak detection and gas fireplace service.
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, sewer backups and no hot water, any time of day or night.
Local Office, 24/7 Phone
Pipe Burst? Shut Off the Main and Call Us.
Our Northbrook office is at 1945 Techny Road, #11, and our phone line is open 24/7.
We also serve Glenview, Northfield, Deerfield, Wheeling, Prospect Heights, Lincolnshire, Winnetka and more.
Need a Plumber?Call our Northbrook Office
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