Fall in Highlands Ranch makes winter feel far off, right up until one cold front drops the overnight low well below freezing and the garden hose you meant to put away splits the spigot inside the wall. Most of the frozen pipe calls we take could have been avoided with an hour of prep in October or November. Here is what to check before the cold settles in, what you can handle yourself, and when it makes sense to schedule a plumbing service in Highlands Ranch while the weather is still calm.
Why Highlands Ranch Homes Freeze Where They Do
The modern community of Highlands Ranch was founded in 1981, so most homes here are somewhere between their teens and their forties. That is young by Denver standards, but old enough for insulation to settle and outdoor fixtures to wear out.
The pipes that freeze are rarely the ones in the middle of the house. They are the ones in cold spots:
- Hose bibs and the short runs of pipe behind them on exterior walls
- Supply lines that pass through or along an attached garage
- Kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls
- Bathrooms built over a garage
- Pipes in unheated basements or crawlspaces
Start Outside: Hoses, Spigots and Sprinkler Lines
Disconnect every garden hose
A connected hose holds water in the spigot. When that water freezes, the ice can crack the valve inside the wall, and you often will not find out until spring, when you turn the spigot on and water runs into the basement instead of the yard. Take every hose off and drain it.
Check how your spigots are built
Many homes in the area have frost-free sillcocks. The shutoff for these sits farther inside the wall where it stays warm, and the spigot drains itself once the hose is removed. If you have an older style spigot with a separate shutoff valve inside the house, close that valve and open the outdoor spigot to let it drain. A spigot that drips after you shut it off, or will not shut off fully, is worth repairing before winter rather than after.
Don’t forget the irrigation shutoff
Sprinkler systems and their backflow preventers hold water above ground, so they need to be shut off, drained and blown out before a hard freeze. Make sure the valve that feeds the irrigation system closes fully, because the system cannot drain properly if water keeps reaching it.
Inside the House: Protect the Weak Spots
Insulate and open up cold spots
Once the outside is done, walk through the house and look for pipes near cold air. Denver Water’s cold weather guidance matches what we see in Highlands Ranch homes:
- Add foam pipe insulation to exposed pipes along exterior walls and in unheated basements or crawlspaces.
- Keep the doors of an attached garage closed, since plumbing often runs through that space.
- During a deep cold snap, open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air can reach the pipes.
- On the coldest nights, let the faucet farthest from where water enters the house drip very slowly.
If a spot has frozen before, it will freeze again under the same conditions. Start there.
Keep the heat steady, especially when you travel
In an occupied home, pipes usually freeze when the heat fails or gets turned down too far. If you are traveling for several days, Denver Water recommends keeping the thermostat above 65 degrees. If your boiler has been short cycling, losing pressure or heating rooms unevenly, have it checked before the first cold snap. Our boiler repair and service team sees plenty of frozen pipes that started as a heating problem.
Find Your Main Shutoff and Make Sure It Works
If you do only one thing on this list, make it this. When a pipe bursts, the main shutoff is what stands between a small cleanup and a flooded basement. In most single-family homes it is in the basement or crawlspace, on the wall facing the street. Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
Then test it. A valve that has not been turned in fifteen or twenty years may be stuck open or may not close all the way. If yours will not turn, do not force it with a wrench. Replacing a worn main shutoff is a routine repair, and it is much easier to do on a calm afternoon than in the middle of a leak.
It also helps to know where your responsibility starts. Highlands Ranch Water maintains the main and the line up to the curb stop, and the property owner is responsible for the service line from there into the house. If you cannot stop the water from inside, the district’s 24-hour emergency line at 303-791-2185 can help shut it off at the curb stop.
When to Book a Plumbing Service in Highlands Ranch Before Winter
Most of this prep is homeowner work. Some of it is not. It is worth calling a plumber before the first hard freeze if you notice any of the following:
- A main shutoff valve that is stuck or will not close fully
- A pipe that has frozen in a past winter
- Supply lines running through an exterior wall or garage with no insulation
- Damp drywall, a musty smell under a sink, or a water bill that crept up without explanation
- A water heater or boiler that has been acting up
A pre-winter visit lets us check the problem spots and flag anything likely to cause trouble in the cold. We inspect first and give you a clear price before any work starts. You can see the full range of our plumbing services or learn more about our work as a plumber in Highlands Ranch.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what temperature should I worry about my pipes freezing?
There is no single number. It depends on how long the cold lasts, how exposed the pipe is, and whether wind is hitting that wall. A string of nights well below freezing is when exposed pipes in garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls are most at risk.
Should I leave a faucet dripping all winter?
No. Dripping helps during deep cold snaps, especially for a faucet on an exterior wall or the one farthest from where water enters the house. The rest of the winter, insulation and steady heat do the work.
Who is responsible if the water line between the street and my house freezes?
In Highlands Ranch, the property owner is responsible for the service line from the curb stop into the home. The water district maintains the main and the line up to the curb stop.
Can I shut off my water while I’m away for the holidays?
Yes, and for longer trips it is a good idea. Shut off the main, open a faucet to relieve the pressure, and keep the heat on.
What should I do if a pipe freezes anyway?
Shut off the water, or at least confirm you can reach the shutoff, before you thaw it, because a split pipe starts leaking as the ice melts. Thaw slowly with a hair dryer, never an open flame. If it has already burst, shut off the main and call our emergency plumbing service.
Get Your Home Ready Before the First Hard Freeze
If you would rather have a professional check the weak spots before winter, or you have found a stuck valve or leaking spigot, call A Clear Choice Plumbing & Heating at (720) 938-1554. We are a licensed and insured local team based in Englewood, providing plumbing service in Highlands Ranch and across the south Denver metro. You can also request a quote online.
