How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Millard Homes

Millard winters can be brutal — and when temperatures dip below freezing, your home’s plumbing is at risk.

Every year, we get calls from homeowners dealing with burst pipes, water damage, and costly repairs that could’ve been prevented with a few simple steps.

Whether your home is new construction or a Millard classic built decades ago, protecting your plumbing from the cold should be part of your winter prep. Here’s how to keep your pipes safe, your water flowing, and your peace of mind intact all winter long.

When water freezes inside a pipe, it expands — putting pressure on the pipe walls until they crack or burst. Once temperatures rise again, that frozen section thaws and floods your home, often without warning.

Here’s what we typically see each winter in Millard homes:

1. Pipes bursting in basements and crawl spaces
2. Outdoor faucets freezing and splitting
3. Bathroom or kitchen lines freezing on exterior walls
4. Leaks discovered only after the thaw

Even a small split can release hundreds of gallons of water in minutes — damaging floors, drywall, and insulation.

Millard’s mix of older homes and modern remodels means plumbing systems vary widely in insulation and layout. Many homes built before the 1990s weren’t designed with today’s energy-efficient standards, leaving some pipes exposed to freezing air.

Here’s what contributes to frozen pipes locally:

• Uninsulated basements or crawl spaces
• Plumbing on outside walls or near garage doors
• Cold drafts from poorly sealed windows or vents
• Exterior hose bibs left connected through winter

If your home has ever had slow or frozen pipes before, those same areas are likely your first warning signs this season.

The good news? A little prevention goes a long way. Here’s your Millard winter plumbing checklist to keep everything running smoothly:

1. Insulate exposed pipes
Use foam sleeves or heat tape for pipes in basements, attics, garages, and crawl spaces. Pay special attention to pipes near exterior walls.

2. Disconnect outdoor hoses
Drain and store them before the first freeze. Leaving them connected traps water and can cause the faucet to burst inside the wall.

3. Keep a slow drip overnight
When temperatures fall below 20°F, let faucets on exterior walls run a gentle trickle to keep water moving.

4. Open cabinet doors
Allow warm air to circulate under sinks — especially on exterior walls in kitchens and bathrooms.

5. Seal gaps and drafts
Use insulation or caulk to close openings around pipes, vents, and foundation cracks where cold air seeps in.

6. Know your main shut-off valve location
If a pipe does burst, shutting off the water quickly can minimize damage.

If you notice reduced water flow or suspect a frozen pipe, don’t wait for it to thaw on its own. A licensed plumber can locate the freeze, safely thaw the line, and inspect for cracks before a flood occurs.

At McIntosh Plumbing, we’ve helped hundreds of Millard homeowners prevent winter plumbing disasters through proactive inspections and pipe insulation services.

Schedule your winter plumbing checkup today — and protect your home before the deep freeze hits.

📍 Local. Honest. Dependable.
❄️ Prevention saves pipes (and peace of mind).
🔧 Done right. On time. Built to last.