Every winter, Northern Virginia sees stretches of nights in the teens and twenties — and every winter, we get the same calls: frozen pipes that burst and flooded homes. Most of these losses are preventable. Here’s how to protect your home, and what to do if a pipe freezes anyway.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
Insulate exposed pipes in unheated areas — basements, crawl spaces, garages, and exterior walls. Keep your thermostat at 55°F or higher, even when traveling. On very cold nights (below about 20°F), let faucets served by exterior-wall pipes drip slowly, and open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air circulate. Disconnect garden hoses and shut off exterior faucets before the first freeze. And make sure everyone in the house knows where the main water shutoff valve is — it matters in an emergency.
Signs a Pipe Is Frozen
Little or no water from a faucet on a cold morning; frost visible on an exposed pipe; strange odors from a drain; or a pipe that looks bulged. If you suspect a frozen pipe, act the same day — a frozen pipe that thaws under pressure is often the one that bursts.
If a Pipe Bursts
Shut off the main water valve immediately, then follow the steps in our burst pipe guide. Kill power to wet areas if it’s safe, document the damage for insurance, and call a certified restoration company for water damage restoration. Prime Home Tech LLC responds within 2 to 4 hours across Northern Virginia and Washington DC, 24/7 — call 703-881-8864.
A little prevention in October and November is far cheaper than a flooded basement in January. If you’re not sure which pipes in your home are at risk, we’re happy to talk it through.