Prevent a Plumbing Disaster: Essential Winterization Tips for Cheyenne Homeowners

For homeowners in Cheyenne, winter is a season of stunning snowscapes and chilling temperatures. While the scenery is beautiful, those freezing temperatures pose a serious threat to your home’s plumbing system. A burst pipe can cause thousands of dollars in water damage and leave you with a major cleanup headache.

The good news? Most winter plumbing emergencies are preventable.

At Marv's Plumbing & Heating, we specialize in helping Cheyenne residents prepare for the harshest weather. Here is your essential guide to winterizing your plumbing and preventing a disaster this season.

1. Address Exterior Water Lines and Spigots

Your outdoor plumbing is the most vulnerable to freezing. Water left in these lines will expand when it freezes, guaranteed to crack a pipe or faucet.

• Disconnect Hoses: Remove all garden hoses from outdoor spigots (hose bibs). Store the hoses indoors.

• Drain Spigots: Turn off the water supply to the exterior faucets (usually via an interior shut-off valve). Once the water is off, open the exterior spigot to let any residual water drain out. Leave the spigot in the open position.

• Insulate Vacuum Breakers: If your exterior spigots have an anti-siphon device (a vacuum breaker), consider covering it or wrapping it with insulation.

2. Insulate Exposed Interior Pipes

Any plumbing in unheated areas of your home—like crawl spaces, garages, basements, or attics—is at high risk.

• Wrap Pipes: Purchase foam pipe insulation (often called "pipe sleeves" or "pipe noodles") from your local hardware store. It’s affordable and easy to install. Simply cut it to length and slip it over any exposed hot and cold water lines.

• Seal Cracks: Use caulk or weather stripping to seal any visible cracks, holes, or gaps in your exterior walls near where pipes enter your home. Even small drafts can bring the temperature down enough to cause a freeze.

3. Protect Sinks and Cabinets

Pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks are often located in exterior walls, making them susceptible to cold when temperatures plummet.

• Open Cabinet Doors: On extremely cold nights, open the doors under your sinks (especially on exterior walls). This allows warm air from the rest of your home to circulate around the pipes, raising their temperature above freezing.

• Never Turn Off the Heat: If you plan to travel, never turn your heat completely off. Set your thermostat to at least 55°F (or higher if pipes are exposed) to maintain a baseline temperature throughout your home.

4. Know How to Handle a Deep Freeze

When the temperature drops into single digits or below zero, extra precautions are necessary:

• Run a Drip: Allow one or two faucets (especially those on exterior walls) to run a very slow, pencil-thin stream of water. Moving water is much harder to freeze than stagnant water. While this wastes a little water, it saves you from the much higher cost of a burst pipe repair.

• Locate Your Main Shut-Off Valve: This is crucial. If a pipe bursts, knowing the location of your main water valve (and how to turn it off) can save your home from catastrophic flood damage. The main valve is typically located in a basement, utility room, or near your water meter.

5. What to Do If You Suspect a Freeze

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle or no water comes out, you likely have a frozen pipe.

• Do NOT Panic: Turn off the water supply to the pipe immediately if you know where the shut-off is. Keep the affected faucet open.

• Apply Gentle Heat: Use a hairdryer, heating pad, or towels soaked in hot water to warm the section of the pipe you suspect is frozen. Never use a propane torch or open flame, as this is a major fire hazard and can cause the pipe to burst instantly.

• Call the Experts: If you can’t locate the frozen section, can’t thaw it, or suspect a pipe has already burst (look for water stains or flooding), shut off your main water valve and call Marv's Plumbing & Heating immediately. We have professional thawing equipment and the expertise to handle emergency repairs quickly.

Don't let winter catch you unprepared. Taking a few proactive steps now can protect your home and your wallet all season long. Trust the experts at Marv's Plumbing & Heating to help keep your plumbing safe and sound, even when the Cheyenne temperatures drop.

Need help with winterization or have a plumbing emergency? Contact Marv's Plumbing & Heating today!