Colorado’s Front Range is no stranger to sudden temperature swings, and that unpredictability is exactly what makes winter one of the toughest seasons on residential plumbing systems. At Doherty’s Plumbing and Drain, we see a spike in frozen and burst pipe calls every year — and almost all of them are preventable with a little preparation in the fall.
Whether you’re in Keenesburg, Hudson, Fort Lupton, Brighton, Firestone, Erie, Longmont, Barr Lake, or elsewhere across our service area, here’s a practical checklist to help protect your plumbing before the cold really sets in.
Pipes located in unheated spaces — crawl spaces, garages, attics, and exterior walls — are the most likely to freeze during a hard cold snap. Foam pipe insulation sleeves are inexpensive and easy to install, and they make a real difference in preventing freeze-ups on the coldest nights.
Rural and semi-rural properties throughout the Front Range are especially vulnerable here, since plumbing runs are often longer and outbuildings may have less consistent heating than the main house.
Garden hoses left connected to outdoor spigots can trap water in the line, and that trapped water freezing is one of the most common causes of split pipes right at the connection point. Disconnect hoses, drain them fully, and if your home has shut-off valves for exterior spigots, use them before the first freeze.
If you don’t have frost-free spigots and deal with this issue every year, it may be worth having a plumber install them — a relatively small upgrade that prevents a recurring problem.
If a pipe does freeze and burst, being able to shut off the water supply immediately can be the difference between a minor repair and significant water damage. Every household member should know where the main shut-off valve is located and how to use it — not just whoever normally handles home maintenance.
This single piece of preparation costs nothing and can save thousands of dollars in damage if something goes wrong overnight.
On nights when temperatures are expected to drop well below freezing, letting a faucet drip slightly — especially on pipes that run along exterior walls — keeps water moving and reduces the chance of a freeze-up. It’s a simple habit that costs very little in water but can prevent a much larger repair bill.
Winter is when water heaters get pushed the hardest, and it’s also when a failure is most inconvenient. If your unit is showing any warning signs — inconsistent temperatures, reduced hot water supply, unusual noises, or it’s simply getting up in age — fall is the ideal time to have it inspected rather than waiting for a mid-winter failure. We cover this in more detail in our water heater services overview.
Ground movement from freeze-thaw cycles can sometimes worsen existing sewer line issues, especially on older or rural properties. If you’ve had drain or sewer problems in the past year, a camera inspection before winter can catch developing issues while repairs are still straightforward, rather than dealing with a backup during a snowstorm.
Even with good preparation, plumbing emergencies can still happen — especially during Colorado’s more extreme cold snaps. Knowing who to call ahead of time, rather than searching in a panic at 2 a.m., makes a real difference in how quickly a situation gets resolved.
Doherty’s Plumbing and Drain provides 24/7 emergency plumbing service throughout the Front Range, including burst pipe repair, frozen pipe response, and water heater emergencies. When you call, you speak directly with a real plumber, not an answering service.
Most winter plumbing emergencies come down to a handful of preventable issues: uninsulated pipes, forgotten outdoor hoses, and aging systems that were already showing warning signs before the cold arrived. Taking an afternoon this fall to work through this checklist can save you a stressful, expensive situation down the road.
If you’d like a professional set of eyes on your plumbing system before winter hits, we’re happy to help. Based in Keenesburg, Doherty’s Plumbing and Drain serves customers throughout the Front Range within roughly a 50-mile radius. Reach out to schedule a pre-winter check, or give us a call anytime you run into a plumbing issue that can’t wait.
