Spokane’s first hard freeze usually arrives sometime between late October and November, and by January, cold snaps with overnight lows in the single digits are common. A frozen pipe can crack and release gallons of water once it thaws, often inside a wall or crawlspace where you won’t see it right away. The good news: you can prevent frozen pipes this winter with a few hours of prep in the fall.
Where Pipes Freeze in Spokane Homes
Pipes freeze where cold air reaches them and heat doesn’t. Check these spots first:
- Crawlspaces, especially in older homes with vented foundations
- Exterior walls, particularly kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls
- Unheated garages, including laundry hookups and water heaters
- Attics with plumbing runs
- Outdoor spigots and the pipe running through the wall behind them
Why Some Spokane Homes Freeze More Than Others
Not every house faces the same risk. Older homes in neighborhoods like Browne’s Addition, West Central, and the South Hill often have vented crawlspaces, thin wall insulation, and plumbing that was added or rerouted over the decades, sometimes along exterior walls. Galvanized steel and older copper pipes in these homes don’t tolerate freezing well. Newer homes on the North Side and in the Valley usually have PEX supply lines, which flex instead of cracking, but the brass fittings and valves connecting them can still split. And any home with plumbing in an attached garage or over an unheated space is at risk, no matter when it was built.
10 Ways to Prevent Frozen Pipes
1. Disconnect garden hoses
A hose left connected traps water in the spigot, even a frost-free model. When that water freezes, it can crack the pipe inside the wall, and you won’t know until you turn the faucet on in spring. Disconnect, drain, and store hoses before the first freeze.
2. Shut off and drain outdoor spigots
If your outdoor faucets have an interior shutoff valve, close it, then open the outside spigot to let the line drain. Leave the outside faucet open for the winter so any water left in the line has room to expand.
3. Insulate exposed pipes
Foam pipe sleeves from any hardware store are inexpensive and easy to install on pipes in crawlspaces, garages, and basements. Focus on pipes along exterior walls and near vents, and tape the seams so cold air can’t slip through the gaps.
4. Seal drafts near pipes
Cold air leaking through gaps around rim joists, dryer vents, and crawlspace openings can freeze a pipe even in a heated home. Seal gaps with caulk or spray foam, and close crawlspace vents once temperatures stay below freezing.
5. Use heat cable where needed
For pipes that are hard to protect, a UL-listed heat cable adds an extra layer of protection. Install it according to the manufacturer’s directions, never wrap it over itself, and check that it still works before each winter.
6. Keep the thermostat at 55°F or higher
Even when you’re away, keep the heat on. Lowering the thermostat overnight saves a little on energy, but not enough to justify a burst pipe. During a deep cold snap, it’s worth keeping it a few degrees warmer than usual.
7. Open cabinet doors
During cold snaps, open the cabinets under sinks on exterior walls so warm room air can reach the pipes. It’s a simple step, and it makes a real difference for pipes that sit against a cold wall.
8. Let faucets drip
On the coldest nights, a slow drip from faucets on exterior walls keeps water moving and relieves pressure in the line. Drip both hot and cold if your faucet has separate handles.
9. Keep the garage door closed
If plumbing runs through your garage, keeping the door shut holds in enough warmth to make a difference, especially for water heaters and laundry hookups.
10. Know where your main shutoff is
If a pipe does burst, every minute counts. Find your main water shutoff now, usually in the basement, crawlspace, or garage near where the line enters the house, and make sure it turns. If the valve is stuck or won’t fully close, have a plumber replace it before you need it.
Heading Out of Town This Winter?
If you’ll be gone for more than a few days, keep the heat set to at least 55°F and ask someone to check the house. For longer trips, consider shutting off the main water valve and draining the lines. A furnace failure while you’re away is how many frozen pipes start, so a fall furnace tune-up is good insurance.
What to Do If a Pipe Freezes
If you turn on a faucet and get only a trickle or nothing at all, a pipe may be frozen:
- Keep the faucet open so water can flow as the ice melts.
- Apply gentle heat with a hair dryer, heating pad, or space heater kept well away from anything flammable.
- Never use an open flame, like a torch or propane heater, to thaw a pipe.
- Check other faucets. If several are affected, the freeze may be closer to where water enters the home.
If you can’t find or reach the frozen section, call a plumber. Pipes inside walls are especially risky to thaw on your own.
If a Pipe Bursts
Shut off the main water valve immediately, open faucets to drain the lines, keep clear of any wet electrical, and call for emergency plumbing. Cougar answers 24/7 at (509) 253-5430.
When to Call a Pro
Some prevention steps are easy DIY projects. Call a licensed plumber if:
- You have pipes that freeze every winter despite insulation
- You notice a water bill spike after a cold snap, which can mean a hidden crack. Leak detection can find it.
- You see stains, damp drywall, or hear water running after a thaw
- A pipe has already cracked and needs pipe and water leak repair
Spokane winters are predictable. Burst pipes don’t have to be.
