How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Colorado Springs Winters

A burst pipe can release 250+ gallons of water into your Colorado Springs home in under one hour, with January temperatures averaging 17–19°F—well below the 32°F freezing point that cracks pipes.

Key Takeaways

• Pipes freeze at 32°F, but ice expansion begins around 20°F in Colorado Springs winters.
• Colorado Springs averages 17–19°F lows in December and January with rapid temperature swings.
• Maintain minimum 55°F heat when away; uninsulated crawl spaces drop to outdoor temps.
• Drip faucets on nights forecasted below 10°F to prevent frozen water lines.

Why Are Colorado Springs Winters So Hard on Pipes?

Pipes freeze when the water inside them drops to 32°F, but the real danger starts around 20°F. At that point, ice expansion inside the pipe builds enough pressure to split the pipe itself — whether it's copper, PVC, or PEX. Colorado Springs averages lows between 17°F and 19°F in December and January, with cold snaps pushing well below that.

The problem isn't just the temperature. It's how fast it can change here. A warm afternoon can give way to a 15°F night with almost no warning. Homes in Monument and Fountain, where garage walls and crawl spaces often go uninsulated, are especially exposed.

Where Are Pipes Most at Risk of Freezing in Colorado Springs?

Not every pipe in your home carries the same freezing risk. The ones most likely to fail are the ones closest to the outside world.

Exterior walls. Pipes running through exterior walls have less insulation between them and the cold. Kitchens and bathrooms on an exterior wall are common trouble spots.

Crawl spaces and unheated garages. These spaces can drop to outdoor temperatures quickly. Any water lines running through them need extra protection.

Pipes near vents or drafts. Cold air seeping through a crawl space vent or an unsealed gap around a pipe penetration can drop the local temperature around a pipe well below the ambient indoor temperature.

How Do You Protect Pipes Before a Colorado Springs Cold Snap?

Insulate exposed pipes. Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and easy to install. Focus on any pipes in unconditioned spaces: crawl spaces, attics, garages, and against exterior walls.

Keep cabinet doors open on cold nights. The pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks along exterior walls benefit from warm air circulation. Opening cabinet doors on nights below 20°F lets heat from the room reach those pipes.

Keep your heat above 55°F if you travel. Turning the heat way down when you leave town is a common way pipes freeze. The space inside walls and crawl spaces can get much colder than your thermostat setting. Fifty-five degrees is the minimum most plumbers recommend when a home is unoccupied.

Let a faucet drip during extreme cold. Moving water is harder to freeze than standing water. On nights when temperatures are forecast below 10°F, let the cold-water tap on your most exposed faucet drip slowly.

Know where your main shutoff is before anything goes wrong. If a pipe bursts, every second counts. Find your main water shutoff valve now and make sure it turns easily. In most Colorado Springs homes it's in the utility room, near the water heater, or in the crawl space.

What Should You Do If You Suspect a Frozen Pipe?

If you turn on a faucet and nothing comes out, you may already have a frozen pipe. Don't try to thaw it with an open flame. A heat gun or hair dryer applied gently from the faucet back toward the wall can work, but only if the pipe hasn't already split.

The more important step is to shut off the main water supply immediately. If the pipe has cracked, water will start flowing the moment the ice thaws. Turning off the water first limits the damage.

Then call a plumber and, if there's any water release, a restoration team right away. Water damage from a burst pipe spreads fast, especially if it reaches drywall, insulation, or subfloor material. In Security-Widefield, we've responded to burst-pipe calls where water had been running for hours before the homeowner noticed, soaking entire finished basements.

After a Pipe Bursts

If water has already entered your home, the clock is running. Drywall begins absorbing moisture within minutes. Mold can establish itself in wall cavities within 24 to 48 hours. Professional extraction and drying equipment is the only reliable way to remove moisture from inside walls and under flooring.

Water damage restoration after a burst pipe typically includes moisture mapping, structural drying, and documentation for your insurance claim. The faster you start, the more of your home can be saved.

If mold does develop, our team handles mold remediation as well, so you're not coordinating multiple contractors during an already stressful situation.

Don't wait until after the next cold snap to think about this. Insulate those pipes now and know your shutoff location.

Call us at (719) 824-1650 or request a free damage assessment.