How cold is cold enough to threaten pipes?
Water freezes at 32°F. Arvada’s January nights average 20°F, and the year has about 141 days at or below freezing. Pipes in a garage, a crawl space or an outside wall are the first to be exposed.
Pipe Freeze Risk Checker
Arvada sits at or below 32°F on about 141 days in a typical year. Choose your town and where the pipe runs, and the checker rates how exposed it is when a cold night hits.
You get a risk level and the steps that help before a cold night.
How the risk level is set
We look at two things. The first is the average January low where you live, taken from ten years of daily weather. The second is where the pipes run. Pipes in an attic, a crawl space or a garage lose heat faster than pipes in a heated inside wall, and pipes on an outside wall or an outdoor spigot are the most exposed.
Each one adds points. A low score reads as low risk. Higher scores read as moderate, high or severe.
What the result means
Placement of the pipe matters a great deal here. A line inside a heated interior wall scores lower than one in a garage or crawl space, and a spigot on an outside wall scores highest.
An average is a typical figure and not a forecast. A single cold night can be colder than the January average, so the steps in the result are worth doing once and leaving in place.
What helps before a freeze
Know where the main water shut-off valve is. Drain and disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor spigots before the first freeze. Insulate pipes in unheated spaces. On a freezing night, a slight drip at a faucet and open cabinet doors on outside walls help. If you will be away, keep the heat on or have the plumbing drained. A plumber can look at any run you are unsure about.
Common questions
At what temperature do pipes freeze?
Water freezes at 32°F, but a pipe needs several hours of cold to freeze through. Pipes in an unheated space or on an outside wall are the first to go.
Should I leave a faucet dripping on a freezing night?
A slight drip keeps water moving through the pipe, and opening cabinet doors lets warm air reach pipes under sinks on outside walls. Both are simple steps for a night that drops below freezing.
Where is my main water shut-off valve?
It is usually where the water line enters the house, in a garage, a utility room or on an outside wall near the meter. Find it before you need it, and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
What if I am away during a freeze?
Keep the heat on at 55°F or higher, or have the plumbing drained before you leave. A plumber can drain the system and tell you how to bring it back.
Climate figures: Daymet daily data 2015 to 2024 for each place.
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