Protecting your pipes before the first hard freeze

Freeze damage is one of the most expensive plumbing failures we see, and one of the most preventable.

Disconnect and drain garden hoses before the first freeze. A hose left attached traps water in the spigot, and that is where the split usually starts.

Insulate any pipe running through a crawlspace, garage, or exterior wall. Foam sleeves are inexpensive and go on in an afternoon.

Know where your main shut-off is and make sure it actually turns. If a line does burst, the seconds it takes to close that valve decide how much damage you are dealing with.

If you are leaving the property empty during a cold snap, keep the heat on low rather than off, and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls.