Winter’s Hidden Threat: How Cold Weather and Holiday Feasts Can Turn Your Drains Into Disaster Zones

As temperatures plummet and holiday cooking reaches its peak, your home’s plumbing system faces a perfect storm of challenges. Winter brings unique threats to your drains that can transform from minor inconveniences into major disasters, leaving homeowners scrambling for emergency repairs during the season’s most important gatherings.

The Science Behind Winter Drain Problems

Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the strength of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break. Frozen pipes generally occur below 20° F, but freezing can happen above that threshold as well, especially if you have uninsulated pipes running through an uninsulated space.

The pipes most at risk are those in unheated interior spaces such as basements, attics, and garages. Water pipes in unheated, interior locations such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Pipes running against exterior walls with little or no insulation.

Holiday Cooking: The Hidden Drain Destroyer

While families focus on creating memorable holiday meals, they often unknowingly create the perfect conditions for drain disasters. During the colder months, it takes less time for grease to cool. Before you know it, that grease will solidify inside your plumbing pipes and create clogs.

Between increased cooking, cleaning, and hosting guests, your plumbing system handles far more grease, soap, and food debris than usual. Without preventive cleaning, these materials can harden and cause slow drains or blockages when you least expect it. During the holiday season, many people prepare big meals—roasts, gravies, mashed potatoes, and all sorts of fatty, greasy dishes. It’s easy to forget that grease and food scraps shouldn’t go down your drains, even though they might seem like liquid at first. Grease, in particular, solidifies as it cools, creating sticky clumps that can trap other food debris and cause stubborn clogs.

Prevention Strategies for Frozen Pipes

Protecting your pipes from winter’s harsh conditions requires proactive measures. 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. Keep the heat in your home set at a minimum of 55 degrees.

Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, especially if your sinks are on an exterior wall. Let the cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe—even at a trickle—helps prevent pipes from freezing.

Insulation is your first line of defense. Insulating pipes in unheated areas like basements, attics, and crawl spaces can prevent them from freezing. Use foam pipe insulation, which is easy to install and can be cut to size. 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.

Outdoor Plumbing Winterization

Don’t forget about your outdoor fixtures. Before winter hits, disconnect garden hoses and, if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This may help prevent freezing of the short span of pipe just inside the house. Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain.

Holiday Cooking Clog Prevention

The key to avoiding holiday drain disasters lies in proper grease disposal. Pour used cooking oil, bacon grease and other fat products into a disposable container, such as an empty coffee can or pasta sauce jar. Let the oil solidify at room temperature, and throw the container in the trash once the container is full.

Wipe down grease on pots, pans, utensils and other kitchenware with a disposable, dry paper towel before washing. Discard the paper towel into the garbage. Scrape leftover food debris into the garbage or compost before washing. Place screens on the sink to catch debris.

When to Call Professional Help

Some situations require immediate professional intervention. If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you may well have a frozen pipe. “If you suspect the pipes are frozen, be careful when thawing them out because if the pipe has already burst, the water will come flowing out and flood your home.”

Call a licensed plumber if you’re unable to find the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can’t thaw the pipe. Professional services like Drain Cleaning Boone County, MO can provide emergency assistance when winter weather threatens your plumbing system.

The Cost of Neglect

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. These staggering numbers underscore the importance of preventive maintenance.

The Michigan Committee for Severe Weather Awareness estimates that a quarter-million homes are damaged each winter due to frozen water pipes. An eighth-inch crack in a pipe can be enough to leak up to 250 gallons of water a day, destroying floors, furniture and personal property.

Professional Winter Maintenance

Working with experienced professionals can make all the difference in preventing winter plumbing disasters. Companies like MasterTech Plumbing, Heating and Cooling understand the unique challenges that Missouri winters present to homeowners. MasterTech Plumbing, Heating and Cooling is a local, family-owned company that has been serving Columbia and the Mid-Missouri area since 1991. We are committed to providing our customers with exceptional service, high-quality solutions, and results they can trust.

It’s best to schedule your holiday drain cleaning at least two to three weeks before Thanksgiving or Christmas. This gives your plumber time to clear buildup before your kitchen and bathrooms see heavier use during the holiday season.

Emergency Response Planning

Despite your best prevention efforts, emergencies can still occur. If you suspect pipes in your home have been exposed to freezing temperatures, or water is not flowing through a faucet normally, follow these steps to help reduce the potential for water damage: Locate and close the main water shutoff valve as soon as possible and before temperatures rise above freezing. Open all faucets, including those outside, to drain remaining water from pipes.

Winter drain maintenance isn’t just about preventing inconvenience—it’s about protecting your home, your family’s comfort, and your financial well-being. By taking proactive steps to insulate pipes, properly dispose of cooking grease, and partner with trusted local professionals, you can enjoy the winter season without the stress of plumbing emergencies. Remember, the small investment in prevention today can save you thousands in repairs tomorrow, ensuring your holidays remain memorable for all the right reasons.