Tucson’s a famously toasty and sunny city, set as it is in the beautiful drylands of the Sonoran Desert. Residents here are mainly concerned with keeping their homes cool during the often-intense summer heat. Winters, meanwhile, are normally defined by pleasant mildness.
Therefore, homeowners are sometimes surprised to learn that their plumbing systems are nonetheless vulnerable to winter cold. While it’s true that subfreezing weather isn’t the norm, it certainly can and does happen here. And the consequences, if preventive measures aren’t taken, are sometimes disastrous.
At Cal’s Plumbing, we specialize in all aspects of Tucson-area plumbing, including emergency response to frozen or burst pipes. But there are many ways you can significantly reduce the potential for this costly problem in the first place.
How Common Are Subfreezing Temperatures in Tucson?
Our desert winters are indeed very balmy, but December and January tend to be the chilliest months. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), average daily lows in both those months are roughly 40 degrees Fahrenheit. That is, of course, well above freezing. But the mercury does sometimes dip much lower. After all, our dry air combined with the frequently clear skies makes for effective nocturnal radiational cooling. The daily temperature range is often impressive, swinging dramatically between sun-fueled daytime warmth and cold, desert nights.
And then there’s the threat of strong cold fronts, which can leave us under an extended cold snap after they sweep through. Winter cold fronts, unsurprisingly, often usher in our coldest temperatures of the year. The NWS reveals that Tucson gets down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below an average of five days in December and four days in January. (Hitting the freezing point can also happen in other months of the cold season, but less frequently.) Cold snaps may plunge our temperatures into the 20s or even the teens. (The coldest recorded temperature in Tucson was 6 degrees Fahrenheit on January 7, 1913.)
How Cold Weather Can Affect Your Tucson Pipes
The reason freezing temperatures pose a plumbing concern is due to a unique property of water. When it freezes, turning from its liquid phase into ice, it expands.
As you can imagine, this can be problematic in the constricted conduit of a water pipe or line. It’s less the ice itself pressing against the walls of the pipe. The key issue is really the pent-up force of the water that’s pushed by the expanded ice blockage.
A freeze-up puts strain on the entire line. The pressure is especially impactful at weak points such as joints, fittings, valves, and, of course, any worn or degraded sections. Frozen pipes may crack and leak, or even outright burst, flooding your home.
The pipes most vulnerable to freezing damage include those in unheated areas of your home, such as crawlspaces and garages. Pipes that pass through exterior walls are also more at risk. Outdoor lines and fixtures are certainly exposed to the potential for freezes. And older Tucson homes, in general, may be more prone to frozen pipes due to aged plumbing systems and inadequate insulation. It’s also easy to overlook the potential for freeze-ups in supply lines for refrigerators, dishwashers, water heaters, and other appliances.
Preventing Frozen Pipes
Insulating vulnerable pipes is one of the best ways you can reduce the likelihood of freeze-ups. Foam pipe insulation or other specialized materials are the best option, but even old sweaters or blankets can help in a pinch. You should also disconnect and drain outdoor hoses and sprinkler systems ahead of cold snaps. Shield hose bibs with an insulated cover.
There are additional short-term measures you can take if subfreezing weather is forecast. Opening your cabinets will better warm your pipes. Then there’s the age-old tip of letting your taps drip, a practice that isn’t always familiar to people living in warmer climates like ours. Moving water doesn’t freeze as quickly or readily as still water. By letting faucets slowly drip, even just a little, you’ll keep water moving through the plumbing system. This lessens the likelihood of ice formation. If temperatures are predicted to drop below freezing, open those cabinet doors and drip those taps!
Dealing With Frozen Pipes
What happens if, despite your best efforts, the pipes in your Tucson home freeze up? Some signs you may be dealing with ice in your system include reduced water pressure or, naturally, nothing coming out of taps or fixtures when they’re turned on. Often, you may not have water in one area of the house while other taps can still flow.
You may be able to find the frozen section of pipe by feel, but that’s not always easy. There are some ways you can attempt to carefully thaw a frozen pipe. It may be possible, for example, to do so by wrapping the iced-up section in towels soaked with warm water. A hairdryer on its lowest setting can sometimes do the trick, too. Be sure to open faucets before attempting to thaw pipes to relieve pressure and encourage flow. Never use an open flame to try to thaw out your pipes. This can end up resulting in damage.
Although your frozen pipe may not end up structurally compromised, it’s smart to have your plumbing inspected after a freeze-up regardless. But it’s not uncommon for a leak to develop after the pipe thaws out, due to cracks or even pinhole openings produced by the strain. Symptoms of a leak can include stains or bubbling on ceilings or walls. You may hear the sound of running water when fixtures aren’t open or operating. Or you might notice a spike in your water bill, with evidence of continuous, around-the-clock water usage.
The worst-case scenario is a completely burst pipe. In that event, you’re likely to notice a pronounced house-wide drop in water pressure. Of course, if you don’t address the rupture, you’re going to find yourself dealing with a major leak or full-on flooding.
If you’ve got a leaking or burst pipe due to a freeze-up, it’s time to contact a professional plumber. At Cal’s Plumbing, we offer water-leak detection, emergency pipe repair, and replacement services. We can also conduct a thorough inspection in case you’re worried about subtle damage or leaks after a hard freeze. If you’re unable to thaw a frozen pipe, we can assist you with that and make sure nothing’s been compromised.
Contact the Experts for Help With Frozen or Burst Pipes This Winter
Even though Tucson doesn’t experience subzero conditions nearly as often as many parts of the country, the risk of frozen pipes here is nothing to take lightly. Indeed, the rarity of very cold weather means many homes weren’t designed with freeze protection in mind. Given the prevalence of poorly insulated/non-insulated plumbing as well as outdoor irrigation, short-lived freezes can easily catch Tucsonans off-guard.
Whether it’s to inspect or insulate your plumbing or respond swiftly anytime to a leaking or busted pipe, reach out to Cal’s Plumbing! We’ve served the city with plumbing installation, maintenance, and repair services since 1948, making us super-trusted specialists with unbeatable experience. Contact Cal’s Plumbing today.
