Water expands when it freezes. Therefore, if there is water inside of your pipe, it has the ability to expand in the same manner. Although many homeowners believe that burst pipes are caused by frozen pipes or ice forming inside of your pipes, this is not necessarily the case. It is not the ice forming inside of your pipe that causes it to burst. The frozen water does, however, cause expansion. The expansion from the frozen water cause water pressure to build up between the area where the pipe froze and the plumbing fixture that is not being used. Burst pipes often occur in areas of your pipe that have not yet froze. That is why homeowners often see icy water immediately leaking out of the pipe that burst. Tips for Burst Pipes No matter how big or small your burst pipe situation is, you want to shut off the main water shut-off valve to your home immediately when you realize there is a problem. It is typically located where the main line enters your home or at your wa...