West-central Illinois winters regularly bring stretches of temperatures well below freezing. For a home’s plumbing, that means one risk above all others: frozen pipes. A frozen pipe can split, and when the ice thaws, water pours out of the split, often inside a wall or under a floor. Most frozen pipes are preventable with a little preparation in the fall.
Where pipes freeze
Pipes freeze where cold air reaches them and heat does not. In most homes, the trouble spots are the same:
- Pipes in exterior walls, especially on the north side of the house.
- Pipes in crawl spaces, unheated basements and garages.
- Kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls, where the cabinet keeps room heat away from the pipes.
- Outdoor spigots and the pipe that feeds them.
- Pipes near drafty windows, dryer vents or gaps around the foundation.
Older homes, which are common around Quincy, often have less insulation in exterior walls and more air leaks around the foundation, which makes these spots colder.
Prepare before the first hard freeze
- Disconnect garden hoses. A hose left attached traps water in the spigot, where it freezes and can split the pipe behind the wall.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots if they have an inside shut-off valve. Frost-free spigots still need the hose removed to work properly.
- Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, basements and garages with foam pipe sleeves.
- Seal air leaks around the foundation, rim joist and where pipes pass through outside walls.
- Know where your main shut-off valve is, and make sure it turns. If a pipe bursts, shutting off the water fast limits the damage.
During a cold snap
- Keep the heat on, even if you travel. A setting in the mid-50s is a common minimum.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so room heat reaches the pipes.
- Let a faucet on an outside wall drip slightly on the coldest nights. Moving water is less likely to freeze, and a drip relieves pressure.
- Keep the garage closed up if pipes run through it.
If a pipe freezes
If you turn on a faucet and nothing comes out, or only a trickle, a pipe may be frozen. Keep the faucet open, then warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer, a space heater kept at a safe distance, or warm towels. Never use an open flame. If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, or if you see any water once it thaws, shut off the water and call a plumber.
Leaks a freeze leaves behind
Not every frozen pipe bursts dramatically. Sometimes a freeze opens a hairline split or loosens a fitting, and the leak is small enough to go unnoticed for weeks. Watch for these signs in late winter and spring:
- A water bill that is higher than usual.
- The water meter moving when everything is turned off.
- New stains on ceilings or walls near exterior walls.
- A musty smell in a crawl space or under a sink.
Small leaks are worth tracing early, before they damage floors and framing. A leak detection and repair visit can find a hidden split and repair the damaged section.
When freezing keeps happening
If the same pipe freezes every winter, the long-term fix is usually rerouting it away from the cold spot, adding insulation and sealing, or replacing it. In older homes with galvanized steel pipe, a freeze can also expose how worn the pipe already is. If you are seeing pinhole leaks and low pressure along with freeze damage, it may be time to consider repiping the worst sections.
Water heaters and cold weather
Cold incoming water also makes the water heater work harder all winter. If your hot water seems weaker in January, read our guide on water heater repair or replacement.
Plan ahead
A short checklist in October saves a lot of trouble in January: hoses off, spigots drained, exposed pipes insulated, air leaks sealed and the main shut-off valve tested. If a pipe does freeze or you find a leak after a cold snap, book a Quincy plumber online and we will call or text to confirm a time.