Protecting Pipes in a Yakima Freeze
Yakima doesn't get as much snow as the mountains, but a clear, still winter night in the valley can drop well below freezing. Pipes in the wrong places don't stand a chance.
Request a plumberWhere pipes freeze first
Crawl spaces with open vents, lines along outside walls, pipes above unheated garages and outdoor faucets with hoses still attached. If a room feels cold near the floor, the pipes in that wall are probably cold too.
Before the cold arrives
Disconnect garden hoses, close crawl space vents and insulate pipes you can reach. Seal gaps where pipes pass through the foundation. If you have a well house or pump pit, make sure its heater or lamp works before you need it.
On the coldest nights
Let a faucet on an outside wall drip a little and open the cabinet doors below sinks so warm air reaches the pipes. Keep the heat at a steady temperature at night instead of turning it far down.
If you go away
Keep the heat on at a moderate setting, ask someone to check the house, and consider shutting off the main and draining the lines if you'll be away for weeks. A small leak with nobody home can do a lot of damage.
Thawing a frozen line
Open the faucet, then warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer or warm towels, starting near the faucet and working back. Never use an open flame. If you can't find the frozen spot or it's inside a wall, get help.
When to get a plumber
If a pipe has split, if water is coming through a ceiling or wall, or if you can't thaw it safely, shut off the main and see frozen pipe repair.
More plumbing guides
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