Frozen Pipes & Winter Plumbing in Ontario, OR & Idaho

Winters on both sides of the Snake River get cold enough to freeze pipes in crawl spaces, garages, outside walls and well houses. If a faucet gives no water, open it and warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer or a space heater kept at a safe distance. Never use a torch or open flame. If a pipe has already split, close the main valve before it thaws.

Before the first hard freeze, disconnect hoses, drain outside spigots that have an inside shutoff, make sure crawl space vents and skirting are closed up, and have lawn sprinkler lines and backflow devices drained. On a well, keep the pump house or pressure tank area above freezing.

When you call, say if water is actively leaking. After-hours availability varies by provider, and emergency visits can cost more, so ask about the fee first.