Winters in Montgomery County can be unpredictable. One week it’s mild, and the next, we are hit with an “Arctic Blast” that drops temperatures into the single digits. For homeowners in Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Germantown, these sudden freezes are the #1 cause of burst pipes and catastrophic water damage.
At Quince Orchard Plumbing, our emergency phones ring off the hook the moment the temperature hits 20°F. The sad truth is that 90% of these frozen pipe calls could have been prevented with a little preparation. Here is your local winter plumbing guide to keep your home safe and dry this season.
1. Disconnect Your Garden Hoses (Critical!)
This is the most common mistake we see in North Potomac and Darnestown. If you leave a garden hose attached to the spigot, water gets trapped inside. When it freezes, it expands and can crack the brass faucet or the pipe just inside your wall.
The Fix: Detach all hoses, drain them, and store them in the shed or garage. Even if you have “frost-free” hose bibs, they cannot drain properly if a hose is attached.
2. Insulate “Vulnerable” Pipes
Pipes located in unheated areas—like basements, crawl spaces, attics, and garages—are at the highest risk. In older Gaithersburg homes, copper pipes often run near drafty rim joists.
The Fix: Buy foam pipe insulation sleeves from the hardware store and wrap any exposed pipes you can see. For crawl spaces, consider closing the vents for the winter to keep out the freezing wind.
3. The “Drip” Trick for Cold Nights
When the forecast calls for temperatures below 20°F, moving water is your best friend. Water that is flowing, even slightly, is much harder to freeze.
The Fix: Identify the faucet furthest from your main water shut-off (often an upstairs bathroom). Turn on the cold water just enough so it drips steadily. It might cost a few pennies on your WSSC bill, but it’s cheaper than a $5,000 flood cleanup.
4. Open Cabinet Doors
Kitchen sinks and bathroom vanities located on exterior walls are trouble spots because the insulation behind them is often thin. The warm air from your furnace can’t reach the pipes inside the closed cabinet.
The Fix: Open the cabinet doors under your sinks on really cold nights. This allows the warm air from your room to circulate around the pipes.
5. Know Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve
If a pipe bursts, time is the enemy. Every minute the water runs is gallons of damage to your floors and drywall. Do you know where your main shut-off is?
The Fix: Locate your main water valve (usually in the basement, near the front wall). Test it to make sure it turns. Tag it with a bright label so any family member can find it in an emergency. If it’s stuck, call us for a Water Line Repair or valve replacement before an emergency happens.
6. Keep the Thermostat Steady
Trying to save money by dropping the heat to 60°F during the day? Be careful. In extreme cold, the center of your house might be 60°F, but the pipes inside the exterior walls could be dropping below freezing.
The Fix: Keep your thermostat set to at least 68°F during deep freezes, day and night. If you go on vacation, never turn the heat off—set it to no lower than 55°F.
Already have a frozen pipe? If you turn on a faucet and nothing comes out, shut off your main water valve immediately and call Quince Orchard Plumbing. Do not try to thaw it with an open flame!
Service Area: We provide winter plumbing services and emergency repairs in Gaithersburg (20878), Rockville, Germantown, North Potomac, Darnestown, Montgomery Village, Potomac, Derwood, Kentlands, and Washington Grove.