How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in a Huron County Winter
Lake-effect cold snaps can freeze exposed pipes fast. Here's what actually works to protect your home — and what to do if a pipe already froze.
Huron County winters come with lake-effect cold snaps that can catch a house off guard fast. Pipes running through an uninsulated crawlspace, an exterior wall, or an unheated garage can freeze — and once ice forms inside a pipe, the pressure buildup behind it is what actually causes the pipe to split. Here's what we tell our own customers, and what we do differently on service calls in Goderich, Clinton, Bayfield, Blyth and Kincardine.
Know which pipes are actually at risk
Not every pipe in your home is in danger. The ones to watch are any that run through unheated or semi-heated spaces: crawlspaces, attics, garages, and exterior walls (a kitchen sink on an outside wall is a classic problem spot). Pipes inside heated living space rarely freeze, even in a deep cold snap, because the surrounding air stays above freezing.
Before the cold hits
Insulate exposed pipes
Foam pipe sleeves from any hardware store are inexpensive and make a real difference on pipes in crawlspaces, attics and garages.
Seal drafts near pipes
Cold air leaking in around a foundation vent, dryer duct or sill plate can drop the temperature around a pipe far more than the insulation itself can compensate for.
Know your main shutoff
If a pipe does split, being able to shut off the water in seconds instead of minutes is the single biggest factor in how much damage you'll have.
During an extreme cold snap
On the coldest nights, a few extra steps go a long way:
Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks that sit on exterior walls, so warm household air can reach the pipes underneath. Let a faucet fed by an at-risk pipe drip slowly — moving water is much less likely to freeze solid than water sitting still, and a trickle relieves pressure if ice does start to form. If you're leaving the house for an extended trip in winter, don't turn the heat off; keep it set to at least 13–15°C and leave interior doors open so heat can circulate.
If a pipe already froze
If you turn on a tap and get little or no water in the middle of a cold snap, you may have a frozen (not yet burst) pipe. Leave the faucet open, and gently warm the exposed section of pipe with a hair dryer or a towel soaked in hot water — never with a torch, propane heater, or other open flame, which can scorch a wall or ignite nearby material. If you can't find the frozen section, can't safely reach it, or notice any sign of water where it shouldn't be, shut off the main and call us — a pipe that's already under pressure from trapped ice can let go the moment it thaws.
If you do end up with a burst pipe, our advice is the same we'd give a family member: shut off the water at the main first, then call. We run emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for exactly this reason.