How to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing This Winter

Michigan averages 10 to 15 days per year below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. At those temperatures, any pipe in an unheated space — crawl space, garage, exterior wall cavity, unheated basement — is at risk of freezing. A frozen pipe doesn't always burst immediately, but when it thaws, the damage can be severe.

Here's what we recommend every fall: First, disconnect and drain all exterior hose bibs. A frost-free sillcock still needs the hose removed — leaving a hose attached traps water in the valve body and defeats the frost-free design.

Second, insulate pipes in unheated spaces. Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and takes 20 minutes to install. Pay particular attention to pipes along exterior walls in crawl spaces and garages.

Third, know where your main shutoff is. If a pipe does freeze and burst, the first thing you need to do is shut off the water. If you don't know where your shutoff is, find it now — not at 2 A.M. in January.

Fourth, if you're leaving for an extended period in winter, don't set the thermostat below 55 degrees. The cost of heating an empty house for a week is far less than the cost of a burst pipe.

If you've had a pipe freeze or burst, call us immediately. We're available 24/7 across all 7 Metro Detroit locations.