Prairie Cold and Your Pipes

The usual suspects

Pipes in exterior walls, under kitchen sinks on outside walls, in garages, in crawl spaces under additions and near the rim joist in the basement. Drafts are what freeze pipes, so cold air leaks matter as much as insulation.

Before the cold

Disconnect hoses, close the indoor valves to outdoor taps and drain them. Insulate pipes you can reach, seal gaps around the rim joist and where lines enter the house, and make sure the basement stays warm.

During a cold snap

Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls, let a tap drip slowly and keep the thermostat steady overnight. If you travel, keep the heat on and ask someone to check the house.

Service lines

In long, extreme cold, frost can reach deeper than usual, especially under cleared driveways. If water pressure falls slowly and then stops in every tap, the service line may be freezing.

Thawing safely

Open the tap and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, starting near the tap. Never use an open flame.

Get help

If a pipe has split, close the main and see frozen pipe repair.

After the cold breaks

When a cold snap ends, walk the basement, garage and any crawl space looking and listening for leaks. A split pipe often only shows itself as water starts moving again, so the first warm day is the time to check.

Heat cable

For a pipe that freezes every winter, heat cable rated for the pipe material can help. Install it to the maker's instructions, plug it into a suitable outlet and check it each fall before the cold arrives.

More plumbing guides

• Summer Storms and Sewer Backups
• Locating Your Main Water Valve
• How to Check Your Hot Water Tank's Age
• Closing Up a Lake Cabin for Winter
• Plumbing Permits in Regina