How to Prepare Your Plumbing for a Washington Winter

Washington winters don’t always bring extreme cold, but even brief freezing stretches can cause real plumbing damage if a home isn’t prepared. A little preventive work in the fall can save you from a burst pipe and a much bigger repair once temperatures drop.

Insulate Exposed Pipes

Pipes running through unheated spaces, crawlspaces, garages, and exterior walls, are the most vulnerable to freezing. Foam pipe insulation is an inexpensive fix that significantly reduces the risk of a pipe freezing during a cold snap.

Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses

Garden hoses left connected to exterior spigots can trap water that freezes and expands back into the pipe, potentially cracking it. Disconnecting hoses and, where possible, shutting off and draining exterior spigots before the first hard freeze is a simple step that prevents a common source of winter damage.

Know Where Your Main Shutoff Is

If a pipe does freeze or burst despite your best efforts, knowing exactly where your main water shutoff is located, and being able to reach it quickly, can significantly limit the damage before help arrives.

Let Faucets Drip During Extreme Cold

During an unusually hard freeze, allowing faucets connected to vulnerable pipes to drip slightly keeps water moving through the line, which helps prevent the standing water inside from freezing solid.

Seal Gaps Near Pipes

Small gaps around pipes where they enter the home, particularly near crawlspace or foundation penetrations, let cold air reach pipes that would otherwise stay protected. Sealing these gaps with caulk or foam is a small task that adds meaningful protection.

Keep Cabinet Doors Open in Cold Snaps

For pipes running beneath kitchen or bathroom sinks along exterior walls, opening cabinet doors during a hard freeze allows warmer household air to circulate around the pipes, reducing freeze risk without any additional cost.

Consider Heat Tape for High-Risk Areas

For pipes in consistently vulnerable locations, crawlspaces or unheated additions, electrical heat tape provides an added layer of protection during Washington’s coldest stretches.

When Prevention Isn’t Enough

Even with preparation, a hard freeze can occasionally cause damage. If you experience reduced water flow or notice a pipe has frozen, it’s best to call a professional rather than attempting to thaw it yourself, since improper thawing can cause a frozen pipe to burst.

Getting ahead of winter weather is one of the simplest ways to avoid a costly plumbing emergency. Find a licensed local plumber on ResearchGiant to help winterize your home before the cold sets in.