Frozen Pipe Prevention Tips for Utah Winters

Reviewed by Tyler Bennett, Restoration Project Manager, IICRC WRT/ASD #291438, October 2026.

Short answer: To prevent frozen pipes, insulate exposed lines, drain and shut off outdoor spigots, seal drafts and keep your heat steady in cold snaps. October is the best time to do this, before the first hard freeze. If a pipe does freeze, thaw it slowly and never with an open flame.

If a frozen line splits and water gets loose, our 24/7 water emergency team in Spanish Fork can start extraction fast.

Why October is the right time

Pipes freeze when water inside them sits in cold air long enough to turn to ice. Ice expands. That pressure splits copper, PEX and fittings.

The first hard freeze in Utah County can come fast. A few hours of prep now costs far less than drying a basement in January.

Find your weak spots

Walk your home and look for pipes in cold places. These freeze first:

Pipes in exterior walls, especially behind kitchen and bathroom sinks.
Lines in crawl spaces, unheated garages and attics.
Hose bibs and outdoor spigots.
Sprinkler system lines and backflow devices.
Pipes near basement windows, rim joists or vents with drafts.

Your pre-winter checklist

Outside the house

Disconnect, drain and store garden hoses. A hose left on can trap water in the spigot.
Shut off the indoor valve that feeds outdoor spigots, then open the spigot outside to drain it.
Have your sprinkler lines blown out and the system shut down for the season.
Seal gaps where pipes go through exterior walls.

Inside the house

Add foam pipe insulation to exposed lines in the garage, crawl space and basement.
Close crawl space vents and fix broken basement window seals.
Learn where your main water shutoff is. Make sure it turns. Show everyone in the house.
Keep the thermostat steady day and night during cold snaps instead of turning it way down.

During a hard cold snap

When a deep freeze is in the forecast, a few small habits go a long way.

Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
Let a faucet on an outside wall drip slowly. Moving water is harder to freeze.
Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through it.
If you travel, leave the heat on and ask someone to check the house. For longer trips, consider shutting off the main and draining the lines.

Signs a pipe is already frozen

What you notice	What it may mean
Little or no water from one faucet	Ice may be blocking that line.
Frost on an exposed pipe	The pipe is at freezing temperature.
Odd smell from a drain	Air may be backing up from a blocked line.
Bulge or crack in the pipe	It may have split. Shut off the main now.

How to thaw a frozen pipe safely

If you find a frozen pipe and it is not cracked, you can try to thaw it slowly.

Open the faucet on that line so melting water has a way out.
Warm the pipe with a hair dryer or a space heater kept well away from anything that can burn.
Start at the faucet end and work back toward the frozen section.
Never use a torch or open flame.

Watch closely as it thaws. Many leaks only show up when ice turns back to water. If you see water spraying or dripping, shut off the main right away.

If a pipe bursts anyway

Even well-prepared homes get caught. If it happens, follow our first steps after a burst pipe. Shut off the main, stay away from wet outlets and document the damage.

Then call us. We dry the home with air movers and LGR dehumidifiers and track progress with moisture meters until it is truly dry. Our burst pipe water cleanup page covers that process.

Winter brings other risks too. Ice dams can push water under shingles. Our post on ice dams and roof leaks explains how to spot them.

If your home has a sump pump, test it before spring snowmelt. See sump pump tips for snowmelt season.

Common questions

What pipes are most likely to freeze?

Pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces, unheated garages and attics freeze first. Outdoor spigots and sprinkler lines are also at high risk.

Should I let my faucets drip?

During a deep cold snap, a slow drip on a faucet along an outside wall can help. Moving water is harder to freeze, and it relieves pressure in the line.

Is foam pipe insulation enough?

It helps a lot on exposed pipes, but it does not add heat. In very cold spaces, pair it with sealing drafts and keeping the area warmer.

What if I go out of town in winter?

Leave the heat on and have someone check the house. For longer trips, many homeowners shut off the main and drain the lines.

Can you help if a pipe already burst?

Yes. Our phone is answered live 24/7. We guarantee 45-minute arrival inside Spanish Fork city limits and are typically under 60 minutes in nearby towns.