If you've stepped outside this week in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Tooele, or anywhere else along the Wasatch Front, you already know: November is here, and it means business. Overnight lows are settling into the upper 30s and lower 40s, and the National Weather Service has already issued Winter Weather Advisories for the Wasatch Mountains this month. The valley floor may stay dry for now, but that cold air is creeping down — and your plumbing doesn't care how sunny the afternoons look.
At The Disaster Repair Team, we see a predictable jump in emergency water damage calls every year right around this time. Not from snowstorms — from frozen pipes that burst quietly inside walls, in crawl spaces, and in unheated garages while families are going about their normal day. The good news: most of this is completely preventable with a little preparation this weekend.
Why Pipes Freeze (and Why It's a Big Deal)
Water expands as it freezes. When that expansion happens inside a rigid copper or PVC pipe, something has to give — and it's usually the pipe itself. Even a small crack can release hundreds of gallons of water before you notice. Because the break often happens inside a wall or under a floor, the water has plenty of time to soak into framing, insulation, and drywall before you see a single drop. That's how a frozen pipe quietly turns into a $5,000–$15,000 water damage claim.
The Spots Most Likely to Freeze in a Utah Home
- Pipes along exterior walls — especially in older homes in Salt Lake City, Bountiful, and Ogden where insulation may be thin or missing.
- Garage water lines — if your laundry hookup or utility sink is in an unheated garage, it's one of the first things to freeze.
- Crawl spaces — common throughout Davis and Weber County, these unheated areas get brutally cold fast.
- Hose bibs and outdoor faucets — if you haven't disconnected and drained your garden hoses yet, do it today.
- Vacation and secondary homes — cabins near the Cottonwood Canyons or Park City that sit empty are especially vulnerable when the thermostat is set too low.
What to Do Right Now (Before It Freezes)
- Disconnect all garden hoses and shut off the interior valve that feeds your outdoor spigots. Leave the exterior faucet open slightly to drain any remaining water.
- Insulate exposed pipes in your garage, crawl space, or attic. Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and takes about 20 minutes to install.
- Seal gaps around pipes where they pass through exterior walls. Even a small draft can be enough to freeze a pipe on a very cold night.
- Keep your heat at 55°F or above, even if you're away. Turning the thermostat down to save money during a cold snap isn't worth the risk.
- Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on exterior walls during the coldest nights — it lets warm air circulate around the pipes.
- Know where your main shutoff valve is. If a pipe does freeze and burst, being able to cut the water in 30 seconds instead of 5 minutes makes an enormous difference in how much damage you're dealing with.
If You Suspect a Pipe Has Already Frozen
Turn on the faucet fed by that pipe — even a trickle means water is moving and pressure is relieved. You can try warming the pipe gently with a hair dryer (never an open flame), starting from the faucet end and working toward the wall. If you can't locate the freeze, or if you hear running water inside a wall after the pipe thaws, stop and call a professional. What sounds like a small fix can be hiding significant water damage behind your drywall.
When to Call The Disaster Repair Team
If a pipe does burst — or if you thaw one and discover water has already spread — the most important thing you can do is act quickly. Water that sits in walls and under floors for more than 24–48 hours creates the conditions for mold growth, and what starts as a water damage job can turn into a mold remediation project. Our team serves Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, and Tooele counties and is available around the clock for exactly these situations.
A little prep work this weekend is worth far more than a restoration call in January. Stay warm out there — and if you have any questions about winterizing your home, don't hesitate to reach out.