Protecting Your Pipes on Freezing Nights in St. George

How cold it gets

The St. George weather station averages about 96 nights a year at or below 32 degrees, nearly 25 of them in each of December and January, and its record low is minus 11 (Western Regional Climate Center, St. George Temperature Summary). Towns at higher elevation, such as Hurricane, LaVerkin, Toquerville and Leeds, often run colder. Homes here are built for heat, not cold, so a few hard-freeze nights can catch a lot of plumbing unprotected.

What freezes first in desert homes

• Irrigation backflow assemblies sitting above ground in the yard. They are the most common freeze casualty in the county.
• Hose bibs, especially older non-frost-free ones and any with a hose still attached.
• Pipes in garages, including the water heater and softener connections, when the garage door is left open.
• Pipes in exterior walls and under sinks on outside walls.
• Attic lines in homes that were repiped overhead without enough insulation.
• Pool equipment, outdoor kitchens and misting systems.

Before a cold snap

1. Disconnect hoses from every hose bib. A hose traps water in the bib, so even a frost-free bib can split.
2. Protect the backflow assembly. Use an insulated cover, or follow the manufacturer's steps to shut off and drain it for the winter.
3. Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves, especially in the garage and on outside walls.
4. Keep the garage door closed.
5. On the coldest nights, the Red Cross suggests opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors and letting cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes (American Red Cross, Frozen Pipes).
6. Keep the heat on at a steady temperature, even if you are away. Second-home owners should leave the heat at a safe setting and shut off the main.

If a pipe freezes

• Turn on the faucet. If only a trickle comes out, the line is probably frozen.
• Find the frozen section if you can, and keep the faucet open.
• Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, a heating pad or warm towels. Never use an open flame.
• If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, or the pipe has split, shut off the main and call for help, as the Red Cross recommends (American Red Cross, Frozen Pipes).

After it thaws

Split pipes often do not leak until they thaw. Check hose bibs, the backflow assembly, the garage and under sinks the next morning. A meter that moves with all water off means a leak somewhere. See leak repair and the emergency plumber page if water is running.

Related services

• Emergency Plumber: Burst pipes, water heater leaks, overflowing toilets, sewer backups and other urgent problems: what to do first and how to request help.
• Leak Detection & Slab Leak Repair: Hidden leaks, slab leaks, pinhole leaks, irrigation and service line leaks, found and repaired.
• Toilet & Faucet Repair: Running and leaking toilets, dripping faucets, scale-clogged aerators and cartridges, and fixture replacement.

Sources: Western Regional Climate Center, St. George Temperature Summary; American Red Cross, Frozen Pipes.