Winter & freezing
How to prevent frozen pipes in a Colorado winter
Updated
Short answer
Before the first hard freeze, disconnect hoses, blow out the sprinkler system and seal air leaks near pipes. During a cold snap, keep the heat at 55 °F or higher, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, and let faucets on outside walls drip.
Why Front Range pipes freeze
Colorado cold rarely creeps in. An arctic front can drop temperatures by 30 or 40 degrees in a few hours, often after a mild, sunny day, so homes aren't ready. Pipes that freeze are almost always in the same places: exterior walls, garage ceilings, crawl spaces, and basement rim joists where cold air leaks in.
Fall checklist (before the first hard freeze)
On the Front Range the first hard freeze often arrives in October.
- Disconnect garden hoses, even from frost-free hose bibs
- Have the sprinkler system blown out and drain the backflow preventer
- Seal gaps where pipes pass through the rim joist or exterior walls
- Insulate pipes in garages, crawl spaces and unheated rooms
- Make sure everyone knows where the main shutoff is
During a cold snap
When forecasts call for single digits or below zero, small steps make a big difference.
- Keep the thermostat at 55 °F or higher, day and night
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls
- Let faucets on outside walls drip, hot and cold
- Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through it
- Don't turn the heat off in a vacant home or rental
If a pipe freezes anyway
Leave the faucet open and warm the area gently with a space heater or hair dryer, never an open flame. If you can't find the frozen section, or it's inside a wall, call a plumber. When it thaws, watch for leaks with the main shutoff within reach.
When to call a plumber for freeze protection
If the same pipe freezes every winter, prevention is cheaper than another repair. A plumber can reroute a supply line out of an exterior wall, insulate and seal the rim joist area, install self-regulating heat cable on exposed runs, or add a dedicated shutoff for a vulnerable branch.
For vacation homes and rentals, a plumber can also install an automatic water shutoff valve that closes the main when a leak sensor trips.
- Reroute pipes out of cold walls
- Heat cable on exposed runs
- Automatic leak shutoff valves
- Frost-free hose bibs
When to call a plumber
Call if the problem keeps coming back, if water is reaching walls, ceilings or electrical areas, or if any step above involves gas, a torch or opening a sewer line. A licensed plumber handles frozen pipe thawing and will explain the cause before starting.
Questions
What temperature should I keep my house to prevent frozen pipes?
Does dripping a faucet really prevent freezing?
Does insulation alone stop pipes from freezing?
This guide is general information for Colorado homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site diagnosis. Local codes vary; your plumber and building department have the final word.