How to Prepare Your Plumbing for Nebraska Winters

It always happens on the coldest week of the year.

A pipe bursts. The water heater quits. The basement floods. And suddenly you’re not thinking about hot cocoa — you’re scrambling to shut off the main valve.

The good news? Most winter plumbing disasters are preventable — if you take a few simple steps before the deep freeze hits.

Winter is brutal on plumbing. The cold shrinks pipes, thickens water, and puts pressure on every part of your system.

Here’s what tends to go wrong:

• Frozen pipes (especially in exterior walls or crawl spaces)
• Burst pipes from overnight temps below 10°F
• Water heater strain due to longer heating times and higher demand
• Backups in floor drains as snowmelt enters overloaded lines
• Leaks that go unnoticed in low-traffic parts of the home

These aren’t just inconvenient — they’re expensive. A frozen pipe that bursts behind a wall can cause $5,000+ in damage in under an hour.

In Omaha, Council Bluffs, and the surrounding metro, winter hits harder than most regions — and our homes are uniquely vulnerable:

• Many homes in Papillion, Gretna, and Millard were built with unfinished basements or crawl spaces that lack proper insulation.
• Older homes in Council Bluffs often have exposed pipes near windows or basement walls.
• And newer homes with energy-efficient windows? They keep the cold out… but also keep hidden leaks from evaporating, which means more unnoticed moisture damage.

It’s not just about staying warm. It’s about keeping your system moving when everything else is freezing up.

Here’s what we recommend to protect your home (and your wallet):

1. Insulate exposed pipes

Use foam sleeves or heat tape for pipes in basements, garages, or crawl spaces.

2. Disconnect outdoor hoses

Leaving them attached can cause pressure buildup — and a pipe burst inside the wall.

3. Let faucets drip during deep freezes

This keeps water moving just enough to prevent freezing.

4. Check your water heater

If it’s older or slow to recover, now’s the time to service it — not mid-January.

5. Test your main shutoff valve

Make sure it turns easily so you can act fast in case of emergency.

Bonus: If you’re planning a trip, don’t turn your heat too low. We recommend a minimum of 60°F during extreme cold.

We help homeowners across Omaha, Council Bluffs, and the surrounding suburbs prep their plumbing for the cold every year. Fast. Friendly. No fluff.

Want a quick winter checkup? We’ll make sure you’re ready.

📍 Serving the entire Omaha–CB metro

🔧 Plumbing that holds up when it matters most.