Freezing is the main enemy
Reno's high-desert setting brings large swings in temperature, and winter nights regularly drop below freezing. NOAA's engineering weather data for the Reno airport records an average of about 123 freeze-thaw cycles a year, and every one of them is a chance for a vulnerable pipe to freeze. Pipes in exterior walls, crawlspaces, garages, attics and under-insulated additions are the usual victims. A pipe that freezes doesn't always burst right away; the split often shows up when it thaws and water pressure returns.
Protecting pipes before winter
- Insulate exposed pipes in crawlspaces, garages and attics, and seal drafts where pipes pass through exterior walls.
- Disconnect garden hoses and install frost-free hose bibs or insulated covers on outdoor spigots.
- Drain and blow out irrigation systems before the first hard freeze, and protect the backflow device or drain it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Keep the house heated when you travel. A thermostat set too low to save money can cost far more in water damage.
- On the coldest nights, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls and let a faucet drip.
Frost depth and buried lines
Washoe County's residential design criteria use a 24-inch frost line depth and a 17°F winter design temperature. Water service lines, irrigation mains and any buried plumbing need to be deep enough, or protected well enough, to stay below the frost line. If you're adding an outdoor kitchen, a detached garage with water, or a new service line, ask the plumber how deep they'll bury the line and how it will be protected where it rises out of the ground.
When a pipe freezes
If a faucet produces only a trickle on a cold morning, a pipe may be frozen. Leave the faucet open, shut off the water if you see any sign of a split, and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or space heater kept at a safe distance. Never use an open flame. If you can't find the frozen section, or water is leaking, close the main and call a plumber.
Water heaters and dry air
Reno's dry climate is easy on some things and hard on others. Water heaters in unheated garages lose more heat in winter, and their supply lines and relief valve discharge lines can freeze. An insulation blanket rated for your type of heater and insulated pipes nearby help. Tankless water heaters installed on exterior walls need freeze protection and correct venting.
Before you hire
Ask Reno plumbers how they handle freeze protection in their work, how deep they bury new lines, and whether permits are needed for water heater replacement or repiping in your jurisdiction.
Spring checks
When the weather warms, turn the irrigation system back on one zone at a time and walk the yard looking for geysers, soggy spots and heads that don't pop up. Freeze damage often hides until then. Inside, check crawlspaces and the areas under sinks on exterior walls for signs of a slow leak that started during a cold snap.