When people think of Las Vegas plumbing problems, they usually think of the scorching summer heat. But if you have lived in the valley for more than a year, you know the truth: The desert gets freezing cold at night.
Every winter, typically in December and January, temperatures in Las Vegas drop below freezing overnight. While we don’t deal with the deep snow of the Midwest, our plumbing is actually more vulnerable because it wasn’t built for the cold. Many pipes are exposed or poorly insulated.
At Clean Hits Pipe Cleaning, we see countless burst pipes every January that could have been prevented with five minutes of work. Here is how to winterize your Vegas home.
1. Disconnect Your Garden Hoses (Do This Now!)
This is the number one cause of winter plumbing damage we see. If you leave a garden hose attached to the spigot (hose bib) during a freeze, the water trapped inside the hose expands. Since it has nowhere to go, it backs up into the faucet and the pipe inside your wall.
The result? You turn on the hose in the spring, and water starts flooding your living room wall.
The Fix: Walk around your house today, unscrew all hoses, drain them, and store them in the garage.
2. Insulate Your Main Water Valve and Backflow Preventer
Take a look at where your water enters the house or your irrigation system. You likely have a loop of copper or PVC pipe sticking out of the ground. This is often your **Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)** or backflow preventer.
Because these pipes are exposed to the open air, they are the first to freeze and crack when the temperature hits 30°F.
The Fix: Buy a simple insulated “rock” cover or wrap these pipes in foam insulation tape or a dedicated thermal pouch. It’s a $20 investment that saves you $500 in repairs.
3. The “Drip” Technique
If the forecast predicts a hard freeze (dropping into the 20s), keep the water moving. Water that is moving is much harder to freeze.
The Fix: Open a faucet in the furthest part of your house (usually a bathroom) just enough to let a slow drip come out. This relieves pressure in the system and keeps water circulating.
4. Flush Your Water Heater
Your water heater works overtime in the winter because the water coming into your home from the street is much colder than in summer. Sediment buildup makes it work even harder.
The Fix: A winter flush helps your heater run efficiently, ensuring you have enough hot water for those chilly mornings.
Don’t Let the Cold Catch You Off Guard
A burst pipe is a terrible way to start the New Year. If you have exposed pipes and aren’t sure how to protect them, or if you want a professional system check-up before the temperatures drop, we are here to help.
Schedule a Winter Plumbing Inspection with Clean Hits Pipe Cleaning at +1 702-808-3459. Stay warm, Las Vegas!