How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in the Lehigh Valley | Action Plumbing

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter in the Lehigh Valley

Every winter, we get calls from homeowners and business owners across Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Northampton who wake up to a faucet that won't run or, worse, water coming through a ceiling. Knowing how to prevent frozen pipes before the cold sets in is a lot cheaper and easier than dealing with a burst pipe after the fact. Here's what we tell our neighbors every year, based on three decades of working on homes and buildings throughout this region.

Why Pipes Freeze in Our Climate

The Lehigh Valley gets a real winter, with stretches of nights well below freezing. Pipes freeze when water inside them sits still long enough to drop to 32 degrees or lower, usually in sections of plumbing that run through unheated or poorly insulated spaces. Once ice forms, it expands and can crack copper, PVC, or even galvanized pipe. The break often doesn't show up until the ice thaws and water starts flowing again, which is why so many pipe failures seem to appear "out of nowhere" after a cold snap breaks.

The pipes most at risk in local homes are usually:

• Pipes running along exterior walls, especially on the north side of the house
• Supply lines in unheated crawl spaces, basements, and attics
• Pipes in an attached garage
• Outdoor spigots and the pipe just behind them
• Plumbing in vacation homes, rentals, or any property that sits unoccupied for stretches

Practical Steps for Burst Pipe Prevention in PA

You don't need to overhaul your plumbing to meaningfully cut your risk. A few basic habits make a real difference:

1. Insulate exposed pipes. Foam pipe sleeves are inexpensive and easy to install on any pipe you can reach in a basement, crawl space, or garage. Pay special attention to pipes near outside walls or vents.
2. Seal drafts near plumbing. Cold air sneaking in through a gap in the foundation, a dryer vent, or an unsealed crawl space hatch can chill a nearby pipe fast. Caulk or weatherstrip these openings before the first hard freeze.
3. Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses. Shut off the water to exterior spigots if you have an interior shutoff valve, then drain the hose bib itself so no standing water is left to freeze and crack it.
4. Keep garage doors closed. If any water lines run through or near your garage, keep the door shut as much as possible on cold days.
5. Let a faucet drip during hard freezes. On nights when the forecast calls for a deep freeze, a slow drip from a faucet connected to a vulnerable pipe keeps water moving and relieves pressure.
6. Keep cabinet doors open under sinks on exterior walls. This lets warmer household air circulate around the plumbing underneath your kitchen or bathroom sink.
7. Maintain consistent heat. Don't let your thermostat drop too low overnight, even in rooms you don't use often. A consistent indoor temperature protects pipes you can't see.

If your home has had freezing issues before, or you're not sure where your vulnerable pipes run, it's worth having a licensed plumber take a look at your system before winter gets serious. We can identify weak points and recommend fixes specific to your house.

Winterize Plumbing in Allentown Homes Before You Travel

If you're heading south for part of the winter or own a second property in the area, winterizing your plumbing matters even more, since there's no one home to notice a dripping faucet or a chilly room. Before you leave:

• Set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees, even while you're away
• Ask a neighbor or family member to check the house periodically
• Consider shutting off the main water supply and draining the system if the home will sit empty for an extended period
• Make sure any backup heat source, like a furnace or heat pump, is in good working order before you go

A furnace or heating system that's struggling to keep up is one of the most common hidden causes of frozen pipes. If your heating and air system hasn't been checked recently, a quick inspection before winter can catch a weak furnace or failing heat pump before it leaves part of your house too cold to protect the plumbing.

When a Frozen or Burst Pipe Needs an Emergency Plumber

Even with good prevention, freezes happen. Here's how to tell when it's time to stop and call a professional rather than handle it yourself:

• No water from a faucet, but no visible leak. This usually means a frozen section somewhere in the line. Shut off the water to that fixture and call us before attempting to thaw it, especially if the frozen section is behind a wall or ceiling.
• Water pooling, dripping from a ceiling, or running where it shouldn't. This is a sign of a burst or cracked pipe. Shut off your main water valve immediately to limit damage.
• A hissing or dripping sound inside a wall. Don't wait for a visible leak. Call a licensed plumber right away.
• Any smell of gas, exposed wiring near water, or signs of structural damage. Stop immediately and call a professional. These situations go beyond a simple plumbing fix and need an expert on site.

Frozen and burst pipes rarely wait for business hours, which is why we offer round-the-clock emergency service across the Lehigh Valley and Phillipsburg, New Jersey. If you're dealing with a backed-up drain or suspect a hidden leak is affecting your sewer line, our drain and sewer cleaning services include camera inspection to find the problem without tearing up your property guessing.

Closing: We're Ready When the Temperature Drops

Preventing frozen pipes comes down to a handful of simple habits, done consistently through the cold months. But when a pipe does freeze or burst, speed matters, and that's exactly where our licensed and certified master plumbers come in. We've spent three decades handling winter plumbing emergencies for homeowners and businesses throughout Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Northampton, and Phillipsburg, NJ, and we're ready around the clock.

Call Action Plumbing Heating & HVAC at (610) 252-1256 or contact our team to schedule a winter plumbing check or get help with a frozen or burst pipe right now.