What to do when a pipe freezes

Nampa's January average low sits around 21 to 23 degrees Fahrenheit. That is cold enough to freeze an exposed pipe in a single night. Local plumbers start seeing frozen-pipe calls once temps dip near 20, and the damage behind one burst line can run into the thousands. If you are a homeowner in Canyon County, the window runs from mid-October to late April.

Where your pipes actually freeze

Pipes freeze where they meet outside air: crawlspace runs, the stretch inside exterior walls, hose bibs, unheated garages, and irrigation lines. A frozen pipe is the stage right before a burst. The ice plugs the line, water keeps building pressure behind it, and that pressure splits the pipe. Watch for a trickle that slows to nothing at the faucet, or a dry tap. Nampa's first freezing night (around 32 degrees) typically lands near October 13, and the first hard freeze (28 degrees) follows around October 25. The last spring freeze creeps in near April 29.

What to do in the moment and before the season ends

If water stops at every faucet, call Nampa's 24-hour line at 208-468-5711 before you call a plumber. It can be a frozen city meter, and only the city clears that. If it is your house, shut off the main, open cabinet doors under sinks so heat reaches the wall pipes, and run a small trickle at the faucet farthest from the meter. Wrap exposed lines in unheated areas and seal foundation or crawlspace drafts. For hose bibs, disconnect the hose in fall. A bib that holds a full hose over winter will split and flood the moment you turn the water back on in spring. Nampa's pressurized irrigation lines need draining before early October, or the fittings and backflow assembly crack.

If a line is already frozen, thaw it slowly with a hair dryer or warm cloth. Never use open flame. The pressure trapped behind the ice will blow out a weak spot the instant the ice gives.

Plumbing problem?

Fill out the request and one local plumbing company covering your town calls or texts back.