Freeze Prep for Mountain Homes

Crawl spaces

Many local homes sit over vented crawl spaces. Insulate the pipes, close or cover the vents in the coldest months and seal gaps where pipes and wires pass through the foundation. Check that the crawl space door closes properly.

Exterior walls

Pipes along outside walls, especially on the side facing the wind, freeze first. On cold nights, open the cabinet doors under sinks on those walls and let a faucet drip slightly.

Outdoor taps

Disconnect hoses before the first hard freeze. A hose left on traps water in the tap, where it can freeze and split the valve inside the wall.

Empty homes and cabins

If a house will sit empty, keep the heat on at a safe setting, or shut off the main and drain the lines. On a well, switch off the pump too.

Thawing safely

If a pipe freezes, open the faucet and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer. Never use an open flame in a crawl space.

Get help

If a pipe has split, close the main and see winter pipe protection.

After a cold snap

When the cold breaks, walk the crawl space, garage and lower levels looking and listening for leaks. A split pipe often only shows as water starts moving again.

Heat cable

For pipes that freeze every winter, heat cable can help. Use cable rated for the pipe material, install it to the maker's instructions and plug it into a suitable outlet. Check it each fall before the cold arrives, and replace any that looks damaged.

More plumbing guides

• Plumbing Checks After Flooding
• Finding and Testing Your Shut-Off Valve
• Water Heater Label Basics
• Hidden Leaks on a Hillside Lot
• Checking a North Carolina Plumbing Contractor