To prevent frozen pipes in a Montana winter, keep your heat at 55°F or higher at all times, insulate any pipe that runs through an unheated space, disconnect garden hoses, seal drafts where pipes enter the house, and let a faucet drip on exposed lines during a cold snap. If a pipe does freeze, open the faucet, warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or heating pad, and never use an open flame.
Frozen pipes are one of the most expensive problems a Flathead Valley homeowner can face. Water expands as it freezes, and that pressure can split a copper or PEX line along its length. Often the damage stays hidden until the ice thaws and water starts pouring into a wall, ceiling or crawl space. The licensed plumbers at Central Heating Cooling Plumbing Electrical have been thawing and repairing frozen pipes in Kalispell for 34 years. The steps below are the ones we recommend to every Flathead Valley homeowner.
When Do Pipes Freeze in Montana?
Pipes in unheated or poorly insulated spaces are at risk once outdoor temperatures fall to about 20°F, and the risk climbs quickly during multi-day cold snaps and below-zero nights. In the Flathead Valley that can mean any stretch from November through March. The most vulnerable lines are the ones you rarely see:
- Pipes along exterior walls, and north-facing walls most of all
- Supply lines in crawl spaces, unheated basements and garages
- Pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls
- Outdoor hose bibs and the pipe just inside the wall behind them
- The main water line where it enters through the foundation
- Plumbing in cabins, shops and seasonal homes that sit empty
10 Ways to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter
1. Keep the Heat at 55°F or Higher, Day and Night
Turning the thermostat way down overnight or while you are at work saves little and leaves interior walls cold enough for pipes to freeze. Hold a steady temperature, and never set it below 55°F, even when you leave town. A smart thermostat can alert your phone if the temperature in the house drops unexpectedly.
2. Make Sure Your Furnace Is Ready Before the First Cold Snap
A furnace that quits at 2 a.m. in January can leave pipes frozen by morning. A tune-up in the fall catches worn igniters, weak blower motors and dirty flame sensors before they fail. Learn how a faulty furnace can lead to frozen pipes, and call for furnace repair at the first sign of trouble.
3. Insulate Exposed Pipes
Foam pipe sleeves are inexpensive and last for years. Insulate both hot and cold lines in crawl spaces, garages, attics, unheated basements and under cabinets on exterior walls. Pipes that run through the coldest spaces may need a UL-listed pipe heat cable installed to the manufacturer’s directions.
4. Disconnect Hoses and Shut Off Outdoor Faucets
Drain and store garden hoses. If your hose bibs have an inside shutoff valve, close it, then open the outdoor faucet so any trapped water can drain. A hose left connected can trap water in a frost-free spigot and split it.
5. Seal Drafts Where Pipes Enter the House
Cold air leaking through gaps around pipes, dryer vents and rim joists can freeze a line even in a heated home. Seal small gaps with caulk or expanding foam, and close crawl space vents for the winter.
6. Keep the Garage Door Closed
If water lines or a water heater sit in your garage, an open door on a 0°F day can freeze them quickly. Keep it closed as much as possible.
7. Open Cabinet Doors on Exterior Walls
During a cold snap, open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors so warm room air reaches the pipes. Move cleaners and chemicals out of reach of children and pets while the doors are open.
8. Let Faucets Drip During Extreme Cold
A slow, steady drip of cold water from faucets served by exposed pipes keeps water moving and relieves pressure in the line. It costs far less than a burst pipe repair.
9. Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is
Find your main shutoff valve now, before you need it, and make sure everyone in the house knows how to close it. Most are in the basement, crawl space or utility room where the water line enters the house. If the valve is stuck or corroded, have a plumber replace it before winter.
10. Plan for Power Outages and Time Away
Your furnace needs electricity to run, so a winter power outage can freeze pipes within hours. A standby generator keeps your heat, well pump and sump pump running automatically. If you are leaving for more than a few days, keep the heat on, ask someone to check the house daily, or have a plumber drain and winterize the system. Our Flathead Valley home winterization checklist covers the rest of the house.
How Can You Tell If a Pipe Is Frozen?
- Only a trickle, or no water at all, comes out of a faucet
- A toilet does not refill after flushing
- An exposed pipe is coated in frost or looks bulged
- Cold air or frost on the wall or floor where a pipe runs
What Should You Do If a Pipe Freezes?
If the pipe has not split, you can often thaw it safely yourself:
- Open the faucet the pipe feeds so water can flow as the ice melts.
- Apply gentle heat to the frozen section with a hair dryer, an electric heating pad or towels soaked in hot water. Start near the faucet and work back toward the frozen area.
- Keep warming the pipe until full water pressure returns.
- Check every other faucet in the house. If one pipe froze, others may have too.
Never use a blowtorch, propane heater, kerosene heater or any open flame to thaw a pipe. It can start a fire inside the wall or cause the pipe to burst. If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, the pipe is inside a wall, or you suspect a crack, call a licensed plumber. Thawing a split pipe can flood the house the moment the ice melts.
What Should You Do If a Pipe Bursts?
- Shut off the main water valve immediately. Every minute counts.
- If water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, turn off power to that area if you can do so safely.
- Open a faucet to drain remaining water and relieve pressure.
- Remove standing water with a wet/dry vacuum, mops and towels, and move valuables out of the way.
- Take photos for your insurance company.
- Call Central Heating Cooling Plumbing Electrical at 406-756-6656 for emergency plumbing repair.
To understand why pipes split and where the damage usually starts, read what causes pipes to burst.
Frozen Pipe Questions From Flathead Valley Homeowners
What temperature should I keep my house to prevent frozen pipes?
Keep the thermostat at 55°F or higher at all times, including overnight and while you are away. Homes with pipes on exterior walls or in crawl spaces may need a few degrees more during a severe cold snap.
Should I drip my faucets every night in winter?
You do not need to drip them every night. Drip faucets served by exposed or vulnerable pipes when the forecast calls for single-digit or below-zero temperatures. A slow drip of cold water is enough.
Will my homeowner’s insurance cover a burst pipe?
Many policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe, but some exclude damage if the home was left unheated or unattended. Check your policy, and document the damage with photos before cleanup.
How long does it take for pipes to freeze?
In an unheated crawl space or garage on a below-zero night, an exposed pipe can freeze in a matter of hours. That is why a furnace failure or power outage in January is so serious.
Can a plumber thaw a pipe inside a wall?
Yes, a plumber can locate the frozen section, thaw it safely and check for cracks before the water is turned back on, which prevents a second flood once the ice melts.
When is the best time to install roof and gutter heat tape?
Plan gutter heat tape for ice dam prevention in summer. Installation has to happen before roofs are cold and icy, so July and August are the time to schedule it for the following winter.
Frozen Pipe Help in Kalispell and the Flathead Valley
Central Heating Cooling Plumbing Electrical has served Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Polson, Lakeside and Somers for 34 years. Our phones are answered locally, by our own team, 24/7. Whether you need a pipe thawed, a burst line repaired or a repipe of problem plumbing, one call covers your plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical needs. Call 406-756-6656 or visit our Kalispell plumbing page to schedule service.
