Riverside County isn’t known for harsh winters, but temperatures in the Murrieta, Temecula, and mountain-area communities regularly drop below freezing during December, January, and February nights. Frozen pipes are a real risk — and when they burst, they can cause thousands of dollars in damage in a matter of hours. Davis Plumbing and Heating Inc. shares these prevention tips and is available for emergency repairs if the worst happens.

Which Pipes Are Most at Risk in Southern California?

In Riverside County homes, the most vulnerable pipes are those in unheated spaces: garages, attics, crawl spaces, and exterior walls with minimal insulation. Homes in Temecula wine country, Murrieta Hot Springs, and mountain communities like Anza are at the highest risk due to their elevation and nighttime temperatures.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

  • Insulate exposed pipes — Foam pipe insulation sleeves from any hardware store ($5–$15) can be slipped over exposed pipes in the garage, attic, or crawl space. This is the single most effective preventive step.
  • Let faucets drip on cold nights — When temperatures drop below 28°F, let the faucet farthest from your water meter drip slightly. Moving water is harder to freeze than still water.
  • Keep cabinet doors under sinks open — On extremely cold nights, open the cabinet doors under bathroom and kitchen sinks to let warm interior air circulate around the pipes.
  • Keep your home heated to at least 55°F — Even when traveling, don’t turn the heat off completely during winter months. Set it to at least 55°F.
  • Know where your main shutoff valve is — If a pipe freezes and bursts, you need to act fast. Know exactly where to turn off the water supply before an emergency happens.
  • Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses — Leaving garden hoses attached traps water in the bib pipe and can cause the bib to freeze and crack.

Signs of a Frozen Pipe

  • No water coming from a faucet or very slow trickle
  • Frost visible on a pipe
  • Unusual smell from faucets (sign of restricted flow)
  • Bulging or cracked appearance on a pipe section

What to Do If a Pipe Freezes

If you suspect a frozen pipe, turn off the main water supply valve immediately before the pipe thaws — because that’s when the burst occurs. Then call Davis Plumbing. Do not use an open flame, propane torch, or heat gun to thaw pipes — this is a fire hazard and can damage pipes.

Burst Pipe Emergency Service in Riverside County

Davis Plumbing and Heating provides 24/7 emergency plumbing service for burst pipes and freeze damage throughout Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Sun City, Perris, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, San Jacinto, and all of Riverside County.

Call us at (951) 657-0393 or contact us online for emergency pipe repair service.