Mon – Sat · 8 AM – 10 PM(612) 245-7341
Mon – Sat · 8 AM – 10 PM (612) 245-7341
Cutaway illustration of a cold exterior wall in winter with a split, frozen galvanized pipe beside a newly installed, insulated PEX line

WALL · Inside the walls · Coon Rapids & north metro

Pipe repair & repiping.

AP Plumbing repairs burst, frozen, corroded and leaking pipes in Coon Rapids and 14 north-metro cities, and replaces failing runs, like old galvanized steel, with copper or PEX. New piping is pressure-tested before the wall closes, and pipes in cold spots get protected from freezing.

Call (612) 245-7341 Signs to watch for

5.0 · 513 Google reviews

What you’re looking atA frozen pipe, and its replacement

  1. Split pipe

    Water expands as it freezes until the pipe splits. The leak starts when it thaws, which is why burst pipes show up on the first warm day.

  2. Threaded galvanized joint

    Galvanized steel is joined with threads, the thinnest part of the pipe. Rust starts there and narrows the inside until flow drops.

  3. Cold exterior wall

    Minnesota code requires pipes in exterior walls, attics, crawl spaces and outside the building to be protected from freezing.

  4. New PEX run

    PEX runs long lengths with few joints, so there are fewer places to leak. It’s widely used in Minnesota homes.

  5. Pipe insulation

    Foam sleeves slow heat loss and freezing. Minnesota code also requires domestic hot water piping to be insulated.

  6. Tested fittings

    Before new piping goes into service, Minnesota code calls for a pressure test: water at working pressure, or air at 50 psi for metal pipe, holding for 15 minutes.

01The short answer

Patch the pipe, or replace the run?

In one paragraph

A single burst or pinhole leak in otherwise good pipe gets a repair. Repeated leaks, rusty water, low pressure from old galvanized, or pipe past its life call for replacing the run, or repiping the house, with copper or PEX.

Pipes fail three ways: they freeze and split, they corrode from the inside, or a joint lets go. Finding out which one, and how much of the rest of the system is in the same shape, decides whether you need a repair or a repipe.

Frozen pipes in Minnesota

When freezing is a risk, Coon Rapids advises letting one faucet run with a stream about the width of a pencil lead; water turning yellow or dropping below 35°F are warning signs a line may freeze. If a line freezes, thaw it slowly with a space heater or hair dryer, never a torch. Coon Rapids prohibits thawing water lines with electric welders.

Galvanized lines

Coon Rapids’ 2025 inventory lists 90 galvanized service lines that require replacement, and galvanized interior piping is still common in older north-metro homes. It narrows with rust over time, which shows up as low pressure and discolored water.

02Symptoms

Pipe trouble, sorted by urgency.

What failing pipes look like, and how fast to act.

Pipes: what you notice → what it usually means
What you noticeWhat it usually meansHow soon to call
Water spraying or pooling from a pipeA burst or split pipe. Shut off the main water valve first.Right now
No water at a faucet in a cold snapIce blocking the line. Thaw it slowly and check for a split as it thaws.Today
Rusty or brown waterCorroding galvanized pipe, or sediment after city hydrant flushing.This week
Low pressure throughout the houseGalvanized pipe narrowed by rust, or a failing valve or regulator.This week
Green or white crust on a copper jointA slow leak at that joint.This week
Pipes bang when a valve closesWater hammer. Code calls for arrestors near quick-closing valves where it happens.When convenient
A damp spot that keeps coming backA pinhole leak or failing joint inside the wall or ceiling.This week

03Repair or repipe

One leak, or a pattern?

Repair the section if

  • It’s a single burst or pinhole in otherwise sound pipe
  • Freezing in one cold spot caused it
  • The rest of the line is copper or PEX in good shape

Replace the run if

  • You’ve had several leaks in the same kind of pipe
  • It’s galvanized and the water runs rusty or the pressure is low
  • You’re remodeling and the walls are open anyway

04Minnesota field notes

Pipe rules written for Minnesota winters.

Rules and numbers that apply to homes here, each with its source.

Checked October 2026. Codes and city rules change; your permit office has the final word.

05Real work

Burst, frozen, corroded. Fixed.

AP Plumbing job photo: hot and cold water pipe repair behind a laundry wall
Job photoHot and cold water pipe repair behind a laundry wall
The furnace went out at my late sister's house, and MANY pipes froze and burst. It was a nightmare of a job, and took a few days of work, but Denis was intelligent, fast, enthusiastic, efficient, and professional!

Jerry K.Google review · Mar 2026

  • “he actually delayed the job a couple of days so he could order a special tool, which allowed him to remove the pipe instead of breaking up concrete. … He came back with his apprentice and the two of them did an excellent job fixing a waste pipe that had been slowly leaking into our basement for years.”

    Jeremy S. · Google review · Mar 2026

  • “He replaced my shower pipes and my seized water main shut off valve. After completion, he showed me his work to make sure everything is working, looking great, and nothing is leaking.”

    Mingmo L. · Google review · Mar 2026

  • “Had a leaking galvanized kitchen sink drain line, and some minor copper work needing done in my basement. Denis worked with me on a few different options to find a solution that worked for me and my budget.”

    Ryan F. · Google review · Jul 2026

Read more reviews

06Questions

Pipes questions, answered.

Straight answers, with the source when a rule or number is involved. Still not sure? Call and describe it.

Call (612) 245-7341
Q

What should I do if a pipe bursts?

Shut off the main water valve, usually in the basement where the water line comes in near the meter. Open a faucet on the lowest level to drain pressure from the lines, stay clear of water near outlets or the electrical panel, and call a plumber.

Q

How do I keep pipes from freezing in Minnesota?

Keep heat on in every room with plumbing, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, and insulate pipes in cold spots. When freezing is a risk, Coon Rapids advises letting one faucet run with a stream about the width of a pencil lead; yellow water or water below 35°F are warning signs.

Source: City of Coon Rapids, “Keep the Water Flowing” (Jan. 2026)

Q

How do I thaw a frozen pipe safely?

Thaw it slowly with a space heater or hair dryer where the pipe is exposed, never a blowtorch, and keep a faucet open so melting water can flow. Coon Rapids prohibits thawing water lines with electric welders. Once a service line has frozen, keep a small stream running until the ground thaws.

Q

Should I replace galvanized pipes?

If you have rusty water, low pressure throughout the house or repeated leaks, yes: galvanized steel corrodes from the inside and narrows over time. Coon Rapids’ 2025 inventory lists 90 galvanized service lines that require replacement. Replacing a run at a time is often practical.

Q

Is PEX allowed in Minnesota homes?

Yes. PEX is widely used in Minnesota homes. Local rules can limit where it goes; Coon Rapids, for example, doesn’t allow PEX within 18 inches of a water heater, which is why the connections there are metal.

Source: City of Coon Rapids, Residential Plumbing Requirements

07Related

Often the same visit. Often the same wall.

Same service, every stop on the line

Each city page has that city’s own water report numbers, permit rules and sewer-line responsibilities.

08Call us

Call the people who know your house inside out.

(612) 245‑7341

Mon – Sat · 8 AM – 10 PM

Hours
Monday – Saturday, 8 AM – 10 PM · Sunday closed
Address
12433 Uplander St NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448
Serving
Coon Rapids and 14 north‑metro cities · see the map