#ProTipTuesday: Frozen Pipes Season is Almost Here

This winter’s early freezing temperatures, snow, and ice across the country remind us that it’s never too soon to think about protecting your home. Frozen pipes aren’t just a plumbing issue—they can lead to serious foundation damage. Here’s why frozen pipes are a double threat and what you can do to safeguard both your pipes and your foundation.

Why Frozen Pipes Threaten Your Foundation

When pipes freeze and burst, they can cause sudden, significant flooding, especially in basements and crawl spaces. This flooding isn’t just an inconvenience; water pooling near or under your foundation can weaken its structure over time. Excess moisture around the foundation leads to soil shifting, erosion, and even cracks in the foundation walls. Over time, recurring water issues can lead to extensive (and expensive) foundation damage.

6 Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Protect Your Foundation

Here are some practical steps to help you avoid frozen pipes and, in turn, protect your foundation from water-related issues:

1. 
   

   Keep Garage Doors Closed
   If there’s a water supply in your garage, leaving the doors open on cold days exposes pipes to freezing temperatures, increasing the risk of freezing and bursting. Always check that your garage doors are closed during winter, especially at night when temperatures drop further.

   
   
2. 
   

   Open Cabinet Doors in the Kitchen and Bathrooms
   Cold air can easily get trapped in cabinets, especially those on exterior walls. Opening these doors allows warmer air to circulate around the pipes, reducing the risk of freezing.

   
   
3. 
   

   Let Water Trickle on Cold Nights
   Running a small trickle of water through your faucets—especially those on exterior walls—can prevent pipes from freezing. Moving water is less likely to freeze, so even a small drip can make a big difference.

   
   
4. 
   

   Set Your Thermostat to at Least 55°F
   Avoid lowering the thermostat too much, even if you’re away. Keeping your home warmer than 55°F ensures that pipes in walls and crawl spaces stay warm enough to avoid freezing.

   
   
5. 
   

   Insulate Pipes in Vulnerable Areas
   Use pipe insulation in exposed areas, like attics, crawl spaces, garages, and basements.

   
   
6. 
   

   Seal Cracks and Openings Near Pipes
   Cold air can sneak in through tiny cracks near pipes, especially around exterior walls, windows, and floors.

   
   

Recognizing and Dealing with Frozen Pipes

Note that if you turn on your water and only a trickle of water comes out your pipes may already be frozen. If you note this problem it is wise to shut the water off at the main shutoff valve. While there are tips to thaw pipes you can find via an internet search, we recommend contacting a plumber for advice. If you don’t do it correctly you could cause the pipes to burst.

What to Do if a Pipe Bursts

If you do have pipes that burst contact a plumber right away. Never wait with standing water in your basement. It poses a health risk to you and your family and can cause long term foundation problems. This is one of the many reasons why our foundation repair contractors are so often waterproofing contractors as well. These problems go hand in hand and water is almost always the root cause of foundation problems.