Don’t Let Missouri’s Harsh Winters Leave You High and Dry: Essential Frozen Pipe Prevention for Mid-Missouri Homeowners

When Missouri’s winter temperatures plummet, homeowners across the Show-Me State face a costly and potentially devastating threat: frozen pipes. All of Missouri experiences freezing temperatures every year, with the northern half of Missouri and the Ozarks averaging around 100 to 110 days of below freezing temperatures in the winter months. According to the Missouri Climate Center at the University of Missouri, we can expect two to five days of temperatures below zero in the north part of the state, and pipes are more likely to freeze when the temperature dips below 20 degrees and stays there for a prolonged period.

According to 2023 State Farm claims data, the company received more than 17,200 claims related to frozen pipes, paying more than $432.5M, with the average claim just over $23,500. This staggering statistic underscores why Missouri homeowners must take proactive steps to protect their plumbing systems before winter’s icy grip takes hold.

Understanding Missouri’s Unique Winter Challenges

Because of its location in the interior United States, Missouri often experiences extremes in temperatures. Lacking either large mountains or oceans nearby to moderate its temperature, its climate is alternately influenced by air from the cold Arctic and the hot and humid Gulf of Mexico. Winters in Missouri can be long with temperatures ranging from mildly to bitterly cold. Kansas City’s January daily mean temperature is 26 °F (−3 °C) and St. Louis’s is 29 °F (−2 °C).

These temperature extremes create the perfect storm for frozen pipes, particularly in areas like water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets, and pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation.

Essential Insulation Solutions for Missouri Homes

The first line of defense against frozen pipes is proper insulation. Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a “pipe sleeve” or installing UL-listed “heat tape,” “heat cable,” or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Pipe insulation can cost just a few dollars at your local hardware store or home center. In some cases, this small investment to protect at-risk pipes could save you thousands of dollars, not to mention the heartbreak and hard work that comes with a burst pipe.

Insulated pipes can raise water temperature by 2°F–4°F compared to uninsulated ones. Pipe insulation acts as a protective barrier that keeps temperatures stable inside your plumbing system. This reduces the chances of freezing by a lot. Focus your insulation efforts on pipes located in the attic and crawl space using pipe insulation, even if the climate where you live does not often have hard freeze conditions.

Strategic Heating Solutions

Beyond insulation, strategic heating solutions can provide additional protection. You can also wrap pipes in heat tape or heat cables with a thermostat control. Heat tape or thermostatically-controlled heat cables may be used to wrap pipes. These systems automatically activate when temperatures drop, providing consistent warmth to vulnerable pipes.

For your home’s overall protection, keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst. Set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing.

Immediate Action Steps for Cold Snaps

When Missouri’s winter weather takes a particularly harsh turn, homeowners should implement emergency measures. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe – even at a trickle – helps prevent pipes from freezing.

A trickle of water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight when temperatures are cold, preferably from an indoor faucet on an outside wall.

Professional Prevention and Repair Services

While homeowners can take many preventive measures, professional expertise often makes the difference between effective protection and costly repairs. For Mid-Missouri residents, MasterTech Plumbing, Heating and Cooling is a local, family-owned company that has been serving Columbia and the Mid-Missouri area since 1991. They are committed to providing our customers with exceptional service, high-quality solutions, and results they can trust.

When seeking professional help for frozen pipe prevention or emergency repairs, consider reaching out to a qualified plumber ashland residents and surrounding Mid-Missouri communities have trusted for decades. Their centrally-located dispatch office in Columbia, MO allows them to quickly respond to calls throughout Mid-Missouri, and their team of certified plumbers and HVAC experts are experienced in all aspects of these trades.

When Prevention Fails: Emergency Response

If despite your best efforts pipes do freeze, if you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber. Attempting to thaw a frozen pipe without a professional plumber’s help or advice can lead to serious damages that are very expensive to repair. However, do not attempt this without talking to a plumber first.

Remember, NEVER try to thaw frozen pipes with an open flame. NEVER attempt to thaw a pipe with a torch or any other kind of open flame! This is extremely dangerous and can be deadly.

Conclusion

Missouri’s challenging winter climate demands proactive preparation from homeowners. By combining proper insulation, strategic heating solutions, and professional expertise when needed, you can protect your home from the devastating effects of frozen pipes. Don’t wait until temperatures drop—start your winter preparation today to ensure your plumbing system remains functional throughout Missouri’s harsh winter months.