Keeping Pipes Thawed Through a Missoula Winter

Know your cold spots

Walk the house and note every pipe in a crawl space, garage, unheated addition or outside wall. Feel along the floor near sinks on exterior walls; if it's cold, the pipes behind it are too.

October checklist

Disconnect garden hoses, close the inside valves for outdoor taps and drain them, close crawl space vents, and insulate any pipe you can reach. Seal gaps where pipes enter the house.

On the coldest nights

Let a faucet on an exterior wall drip slightly, open cabinet doors under sinks and keep the thermostat steady overnight. The cost of a little water and heat is tiny compared with a burst pipe.

Heat cable

For pipes that freeze every year, heat cable designed for water lines can help. Install it to the maker's instructions and plug it into a proper outlet. A plumber can advise where it makes sense.

If a pipe freezes

Open the faucet and warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer or warm towels. Never use a flame. If you can't reach the frozen section, or water starts leaking, close the main.

Get help

If a pipe has split or you can't thaw it safely, see frozen and burst pipes.

Watch the forecast

Missoula sits west of the Rockies, so it often avoids the worst cold of the plains, but it still averages several mornings a year at or below zero. Those are the nights to be ready for. Check the forecast weekly through winter and take extra steps when a deep cold spell is on the way.

More plumbing guides

• What to Do When a Pipe Bursts
• How Old Is Your Water Heater? Reading the Label
• Checking for a Hidden Leak
• Closing Up a Cabin or Empty House for Winter
• Hiring a Licensed Plumber in Montana