Safety first: if there is fire, gas smell, or electrical risk near water, leave and call 911 or your utility first.
Before a freeze
- Wrap exposed pipes, hose bibs, and backflow preventers.
- Disconnect garden hoses.
- Cover or drain irrigation lines and valves as recommended.
- Know where your main shut-off is.
- Watch National Weather Service Tucson forecasts and freeze warnings.
If a pipe bursts
- Shut off the main.
- Open a faucet to relieve pressure.
- Photograph damage and call a plumber.
- If water got inside, start drying and call a restoration contractor.
Frequently asked questions
Do pipes really freeze in Tucson?
Hard freezes happen in some winters, and exposed pipes and backflow preventers are most at risk.
More guides
- Water damage: what to do in the first 24 hours
- Water heater leaking? Limit the damage
- Swamp cooler leaks and mold
- Monsoon prep checklist for Tucson homes
- Water damage insurance claim tips
- Slab leak signs in Tucson homes
- Mold after a leak: what to know
- How to vet a restoration contractor in Arizona
- Roof leak or plumbing leak?
- Smoke odor and soot after a small fire
Coming back for the winter? Use our snowbird return leak check before you settle in.
Pipe frozen but not leaking yet? Thawing and repair is plumbing work. Our sister referral site Sabino Creek takes plumbing referral requests, and its space heater safety page covers cold-night heating.
Need a restoration contractor in Tucson?
Tell us what happened and we'll refer you to an independent contractor.