Sandy winters test plumbing the way nothing else does: hard freezes, freeze-thaw cycling, snow loads, and spring thaws that reveal what winter broke. This guide covers what to watch for, what to do, a…
Sandy winters test plumbing the way nothing else does: hard freezes, freeze-thaw cycling, snow loads, and spring thaws that reveal what winter broke. This guide covers what to watch for, what to do, and when to call a specialist — before, during, and after the cold.
Disconnect hoses and shut off exterior hose bibs — the #1 freeze casualty. Know where your main shutoff is (you'll want it in a hurry someday). Insulate exposed pipes in crawlspaces, attics, and garages. If you have a hydronic heating system, verify it holds pressure before heating season — topping up all winter masks a leak that corrodes the system.
Frost on exposed pipes, faucets that trickle instead of flow, strange banging when water runs, and any new dampness near exterior walls. If a pipe freezes, keep the faucet open slightly and warm the pipe gradually — never with an open flame. If it bursts, shut the main immediately and call for help.
Spring is when winter's damage surfaces: supply lines that split during a freeze now leak freely, hose bibs that froze crack when first used, and irrigation systems reveal freeze-broken heads and lines. A post-winter meter test is cheap insurance — run it in April and catch what the thaw exposed.
Our freeze-thaw cycling is harder on plumbing than sustained deep cold — repeated expansion and contraction works joints loose. Utah's hard water plus cold snaps is a documented pinhole-leak driver. And spring Wasatch snowmelt raises water tables, so basement dampness in March–May is often groundwater, not plumbing — worth diagnosing correctly before spending on the wrong fix.
For at-risk pipes (exterior walls, unheated spaces), a slight drip relieves pressure and can prevent bursts. It's a stopgap, not a solution — insulation and heat are the real fixes.
Often it's snowmelt and a high water table — groundwater, not plumbing. But 'often' isn't 'always'; if it's new, worsening, or constant regardless of weather, get it investigated.
Yes — our methods work year-round. Frozen ground can actually help acoustic work by transmitting sound well, though deep frost adds some complexity we'll account for.
Don't wait for the damage to announce itself. Call now — we're open 24/7 — or request an inspection online and we'll respond promptly.