{"id":1911,"date":"2026-10-12T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/?p=1911"},"modified":"2026-10-13T11:14:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T16:14:32","slug":"how-to-prevent-frozen-pipes-before-illinois-winter-arrives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/plumbing-service\/how-to-prevent-frozen-pipes-before-illinois-winter-arrives\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prevent Frozen Pipes Before Illinois Winter Arrives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As Illinois homeowners get ready for winter, now is the time to think about protecting your plumbing from freezing temperatures. Preventing frozen pipes in Evanston, IL<\/a> starts with a few practical steps you can take before the first hard freeze. A little preparation can help reduce the risk of burst pipes, water damage, and an unexpected plumbing emergency when temperatures plunge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Insulate Exposed Pipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pipes located in unheated areas are especially vulnerable when temperatures fall. Check plumbing in garages, basements, crawl spaces, utility rooms, and other drafty spaces. Add foam pipe insulation around exposed water lines, paying close attention to pipes near exterior walls. Insulation helps slow heat loss and gives your plumbing additional protection during cold weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disconnect Outdoor Hoses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before freezing weather arrives, disconnect garden hoses from exterior faucets. Leaving a hose attached can trap water inside the faucet and connected plumbing, increasing the potential for freezing and damage. Drain hoses and store them in a protected location. If your home has shutoff valves for outdoor faucets, close them and drain the remaining water when appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seal Drafts Around Plumbing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cold air entering through gaps can make vulnerable plumbing even more susceptible to freezing. Inspect areas where pipes pass through exterior walls, floors, or foundations. Use appropriate caulk or expanding foam to seal drafts around openings while avoiding anything that could damage the pipe. Also check doors, windows, and other nearby openings for drafts that could lower temperatures around plumbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protect Vulnerable Plumbing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some pipes need extra attention because of their location. Keep garage doors closed when possible, especially during freezing weather. If pipes run beneath sinks on exterior walls, opening cabinet doors during a severe cold snap can allow warmer household air to circulate around them. Make sure heat can reach rooms containing plumbing, and never use an open flame or other unsafe heat source to warm a pipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Water Moving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During exceptionally cold weather, allowing a small amount of water to flow from a vulnerable faucet may help reduce the chance of pipes freezing. This can be particularly useful for plumbing along exterior walls. However, dripping faucets are not a substitute for insulation and proper preparation. If you are unsure which pipes are most at risk, a professional inspection can identify vulnerable areas before winter arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schedule Fall Plumbing Maintenance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fall is a good time to have your plumbing checked before freezing temperatures become routine. Our expert plumbing team can inspect vulnerable pipes, outdoor connections, shutoff valves, and other components during a preventative fall plumbing maintenance visit. We can also help identify areas where insulation or draft sealing may provide additional protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare Now for a Safer Winter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Frozen pipes can cause significant damage, but preparation does not have to be complicated. Insulate exposed plumbing, disconnect and drain outdoor hoses, seal drafts, protect vulnerable pipes, and address potential trouble spots before the weather turns sharply colder. Taking these steps now can help you head into an Illinois winter with greater confidence and fewer plumbing surprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For expert help with frozen pipes in Evanston, IL, <\/strong>contact Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc.<\/strong><\/a> Our knowledgeable plumbers serve the North Shore and Northwest Chicago suburbs. Rely on Reliance!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A little preparation can help reduce the risk of burst pipes, water damage, and an unexpected plumbing emergency when temperatures plunge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[135,249],"class_list":["post-1911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-plumbing-service","tag-evanston","tag-frozen-pipes"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1911"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1913,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1911\/revisions\/1913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}