Plumbing Winterization in Lake Stevens, WA

Why does winterization matter in Lake Stevens?

Because our freezes are rare enough to catch people unprepared. Lake Stevens winters are mostly wet and mild, which means many homes were built — and are maintained — with the assumption that pipes will never see a hard freeze. Then an arctic outbreak arrives, like the one from January 12–19, 2024, and the region learns the difference the expensive way: pipes burst not during the deep freeze, but during the thaw, when ice blockages melt and pressurized water finds the splits the ice created.

The 2024 outbreak's lesson is simple and worth repeating every fall: winterization is a one-afternoon job that prevents a five-figure water damage bill. Most burst pipes that week were in predictable spots — hose bibbs with hoses still attached, uninsulated crawlspace lines, and garage plumbing. Every one of those is preventable. Here is how.

How do I protect outdoor faucets and hose bibbs?

Start here, because hose bibbs cause the plurality of freeze failures. The steps, in order:

What about crawlspace and garage pipes?

Crawlspaces are the number-one freeze location in Lake Stevens homes. They are unheated, ventilated to the outside, and full of supply lines running to kitchens and bathrooms above. During the January 2024 outbreak, crawlspace lines were the pipes that froze first and burst loudest at thaw.

Insulate every exposed supply line in the crawlspace and garage with foam pipe sleeves — the slit tubes that snap over the pipe cost little and install in minutes. Pay special attention to lines near foundation vents and any pipe that runs along an exterior wall. During a hard freeze, close or cover crawlspace vents to cut the wind chill; open them again when temperatures recover so moisture does not build up. If your crawlspace has a history of freezing, a thermostatically controlled heat cable on the most exposed runs is a worthwhile upgrade — a plumber can install one in a single visit.

What should I do before leaving town for the winter holidays?

A burst pipe discovered an hour after it happens is a repair bill. A burst pipe discovered after a week in another state is a renovation. If you leave Lake Stevens for more than a couple of days during freezing weather:

• Shut off the main water valve where the line enters your house.
• Open the lowest faucet in the house (usually a basement, crawlspace, or outdoor spigot) to relieve pressure, and flush toilets to empty tanks.
• Set the thermostat no lower than 55°F — never turn the heat fully off.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
• Have a neighbor or friend check the house every day or two, and leave them the number of a plumber.

If you will be gone for weeks, consider having a plumber fully winterize the house — draining the water heater, blowing out the lines, and adding antifreeze to traps. It costs far less than the insurance deductible on a major water loss.

What do I do during a freeze warning?

When the forecast calls for sustained temperatures in the low 20s or teens, run through this short list the evening before: hoses disconnected, crawlspace vents covered, garage doors closed, cabinet doors open under exterior-wall sinks, and a pencil-thin stream of water running from one faucet on an exterior wall overnight. Moving water freezes far more slowly than standing water — the small water cost is nothing next to a burst pipe. And make sure everyone in the house knows where the main shutoff is, because if a pipe does burst, speed is everything. Our burst pipe shutoff checklist walks through exactly what to do, step by step.

Last updated: October 2026

Want a professional winterization before the cold arrives? Contact Eby Plumbing — we insulate exposed lines, service hose bibbs, and install heat cable across Lake Stevens. And if the worst already happened, our emergency plumbers handle burst pipes day and night.