How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Colorado Winters

Colorado winters can be brutal, with temperatures regularly dropping below freezing and putting your home's plumbing at serious risk. Frozen pipes aren't just an inconvenience—they can burst and cause thousands of dollars in water damage. The good news is that with some preparation and vigilance, you can protect your pipes from freezing and avoid costly repairs.

Understanding the Risk

Pipes are most vulnerable when temperatures drop below 20°F. In Colorado, this can happen frequently during winter months, especially during cold snaps and overnight hours. Pipes that run through unheated areas like crawl spaces, attics, garages, and along exterior walls are particularly at risk.

Essential Prevention Steps

1. Insulate Your Pipes

One of the most effective ways to prevent frozen pipes is proper insulation. Focus on pipes in vulnerable areas such as crawl spaces, attics, and those running along exterior walls. You can use pipe insulation sleeves, foam, or heat tape to wrap exposed pipes. For crawl spaces, consider using rigid foam insulation on walls and floors to create a warmer environment. Sealing any cracks or holes in walls with foam insulation or caulk will also help keep cold air away from your pipes.

2. Keep Water Moving

Running water through your pipes, even at just a trickle, can help prevent freezing. Moving water is much less likely to freeze than standing water. Additionally, opening faucets slightly relieves pressure in the pipes, which reduces the chance of bursting if a pipe does freeze. During extreme cold, this simple step can make a significant difference.

3. Maintain Consistent Indoor Temperature

During cold weather, keep your thermostat set to the same temperature day and night. Avoid lowering the heat at night or when you're away, as this can allow pipes to freeze. If you're leaving town during winter, never set your thermostat below 55°F. This consistent warmth helps protect pipes throughout your home.

4. Open Cabinet Doors

If you have pipes running through cabinets or vanities, especially those along exterior walls, open the cabinet doors to allow warmer room air to circulate around the pipes. This simple action can prevent cold spots from developing.

5. Seal Drafts and Gaps

Check your home for drafts in crawl spaces, basements, and around windows and doors. Fix broken windows and doors, and eliminate any sources of cold air that could reach your pipes. Even small gaps can allow freezing air to reach vulnerable plumbing.

6. Drain Outdoor Water Lines

Before winter arrives, drain water from swimming pools, sprinkler systems, and outdoor hoses following manufacturer instructions. Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets and consider installing insulated covers on outdoor spigots.

If Your Pipes Do Freeze

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you likely have a frozen pipe. Here's what to do:

1. Keep the faucet open. As you thaw the pipe, running water will help melt ice.

2. Apply gentle heat to the frozen section using a hair dryer, electric heating pad, or towels soaked in hot water. Never use a torch or open flame, as this creates a fire hazard and can damage pipes.

3. If the frozen pipe is not easily accessible or if the pipe has burst, contact a licensed plumber immediately.

4. After thawing, check the affected area carefully for leaks to ensure the freeze didn't damage your pipes.

The Bottom Line

Preventing frozen pipes in Colorado requires a combination of preparation and vigilance. By insulating vulnerable pipes, maintaining adequate heat, keeping water moving during extreme cold, and eliminating drafts, you can significantly reduce your risk of frozen and burst pipes. The small effort and expense of prevention is far less costly than dealing with burst pipes and water damage in the middle of winter.

Don't wait until temperatures plummet—take action now to protect your home's plumbing system from Colorado's harsh winter conditions.

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Sources:

• City of Boulder. "Frozen Pipes." https://bouldercolorado.gov/frozen-pipes

• The Denver Post. "Here's how to prevent (and thaw) frozen pipes as arctic cold blast hits Colorado." January 21, 2025. https://www.denverpost.com/2025/01/16/frozen-water-pipes-denver-colorado-cold-weather/

• Custom Integrated Designs Ltd. "How To Prevent Frozen Pipes in Your Colorado Home." https://www.cidbasements.com/basement-content/blog/how-prevent-frozen-pipes-your-colorado-home/

• American Red Cross. "Preventing & Thawing Frozen Pipes." https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html

• Columbine Water and Sanitation District. "Prep Your Pipes for Freezing Temps." https://columbinewsd.colorado.gov/news-article/prep-your-pipes-for-freezing-temps

• City of Durango. "Preparing for winter." https://www.durangoco.gov/1435/Preparing-for-winter

• Colorado Springs Gazette. "Frozen pipes - how to insulate crawl spaces to avoid pipes freezing." January 29, 2020. https://gazette.com/2020/01/29/frozen-pipes-how-to-insulate-crawl-spaces-to-avoid-pipes-freezing-a3a3e310-420a-11ea-bb66-275058dd7ab5/