Before the first hard freeze: protecting your pipes in Yamhill County

Most of the work of avoiding a burst pipe happens before the cold arrives. The steps below come from the public guidance of Willamette Valley water utilities — the Portland Water Bureau, the City of Salem and the City of Hillsboro — plus the City of Newberg's own maintenance FAQ. Each source is linked at the bottom.

Do this now, before it freezes

The Portland Water Bureau's advice is to "start to prepare your plumbing for winter before temperatures dip below freezing." Its list, together with Salem's and Hillsboro's, covers the same few jobs:

• Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets. Salem says to do it before the temperature drops below freezing.
• Cover outdoor faucets and hose bibs with insulating covers. If you have a separate shutoff for outdoor faucets, Portland says to turn it off and open each spigot to drain the water left in the pipe.
• Insulate pipes in unheated spaces: crawl spaces, attics, garages and basements.
• Close foundation vents. Portland suggests filling the openings with wood or foam blocks; Hillsboro says foam blocks or cardboard.
• Seal gaps where pipes enter the house, and cracks in outside walls or foundations, to keep cold air off the pipes.

Find your main shutoff valve today

If a pipe does burst, the first thing to do is shut off the water — so find the valve while nothing is wrong. Portland says most shutoff valves are where the water line enters the house. Newberg's maintenance FAQ says there should be a valve near the house, and to check the crawl space or basement, the garage, or outside near the foundation. If you can't find one, the city suggests you "might want to have a shutoff valve installed."

Newberg's FAQ also says the city water meter sits in a box in front of the house, set flush with the ground, and should be kept clear of landscaping, cars and other items. If you need help shutting water off at the meter, the city's number is on that FAQ page. In other towns, check with your city's water department.

On nights below freezing

• Let faucets drip. Salem says a slow, constant trickle of cold water, especially from faucets on outside walls; Hillsboro says to let both hot and cold trickle overnight. Moving water is less likely to freeze.
• Open the cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm room air reaches the pipes.
• Keep the heat on. Hillsboro says to set it no lower than 55 degrees.
• Leaving for a long winter trip? Hillsboro suggests shutting off the main water valve and draining the plumbing.

If a pipe freezes

Hillsboro's warning: "NEVER attempt to thaw a pipe with a torch or any other kind of open flame." It's a fire hazard.

Portland and Hillsboro both say a hair dryer can thaw a frozen pipe safely; Portland also lists a heat lamp, and Hillsboro says to heat slowly, starting closest to the faucet end. Once it thaws, Portland says to leave a little water running so the pipe doesn't freeze again. Salem's advice is simpler: contact a licensed plumber for information on thawing frozen pipes.

If a pipe bursts

1. 1Shut off the main valvePortland's first step: close your main water shutoff valve. Next, turn off your water heater at the shutoff valve on the pipe where cold water enters it. Then turn on all the faucets and flush the toilets to reduce the pressure from the burst pipe.
2. 2Can't shut it off? Call your water providerCities run their own emergency lines for this. In Newberg, the number for help at the meter is on the city's maintenance FAQ.
3. 3Call a plumbing contractor for the repairPortland's last step is to contact a plumber for the repair work.

Does a freeze repair need a permit?

Often not, if it's small. Oregon's plumbing rule on "exempt ordinary minor plumbing repairs" (linked below) says a registered plumbing contractor does not need a permit or inspection for emergency repair or replacement of freeze-damaged piping, up to five feet of new piping per structure in 180 days, as long as the repair doesn't change or alter the existing plumbing system. The same rule says ordinary minor repairs do not include new construction, replacing a water heater, or underground plumbing. If the damage is bigger than that, check with your building office before the work starts.

Hiring someone in a hurry

Emergencies are when people skip steps. In a January 31, 2024 release about storm repairs, Oregon's Construction Contractors Board (CCB) said to check that a business is licensed, bonded and insured, with an active license and the residential endorsement. It listed warning signs: a contractor who "solicits door to door, pressures you to act now," asks for a large deposit or all the money up front, or makes an offer that sounds too good to be true.

• Plumbing contractors in Yamhill CountyEach listing links to the state license record, with the date we checked it.
• Water-damage restorationFor cleanup after a burst pipe.
• How to check a contractor's license in OregonTakes two minutes, even in a hurry.
• Hiring a contractor in Yamhill County: start hereBids, permits and contracts.