Keep Reading
Wausau regularly hits -15°F to -20°F in deep winter. At those temperatures, unprotected pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces, and garages can freeze in hours — and a burst pipe can release 250 gallons per hour before you even notice. Here's everything I tell my Wausau customers before winter arrives.
The most effective prevention: add foam pipe insulation to pipes in unheated spaces — crawl spaces, garages, exterior walls, and attic runs. This is inexpensive and DIY-friendly. For pipes in walls, adding insulation to the exterior wall cavity is a longer-term solution worth doing during any remodel.
When temperatures drop below -10°F, let a thin stream of water run from faucets served by pipes on exterior walls. Moving water is much harder to freeze than still water. This is especially important for kitchen sinks on outside walls.
On extremely cold nights, open the cabinet doors under bathroom and kitchen sinks along exterior walls. This allows the warmer air inside your home to reach the pipes instead of leaving them exposed to the cold exterior wall cavity.
Never set your thermostat below 55°F while away in winter — and consider shutting off the main water supply and draining lines if you'll be gone more than a week. A burst pipe in an empty house can do catastrophic water damage before anyone discovers it.
Lake DuBay and other Marathon County lake properties need complete plumbing winterization when closed for the season — draining all lines, blowing out supply pipes, and adding antifreeze to P-traps. Genrich Plumbing handles seasonal cottage winterization throughout our service area.
Shut off the main water valve immediately. Open the affected faucet to allow water to flow as the pipe thaws. Apply gentle heat with a hair dryer (never open flame). Call (715) 675-2000 — Bob will assess whether the pipe has burst and schedule same-day service.
61 years serving Wausau and Marathon County. Free estimates. Master Plumber on every job.
Pipes can begin freezing when temperatures drop to 20°F or below — especially pipes on exterior walls with little insulation. In Wausau, Wisconsin, temperatures frequently reach -10°F to -20°F, creating extreme risk for unprotected pipes.
Focus on faucets served by pipes running along exterior walls, through unheated garages, or in crawl spaces. Interior pipes in well-insulated walls rarely need dripping. If in doubt, a light drip is inexpensive insurance.
The pipe repair itself may be $200–$600 depending on location and length. The water damage — drywall, flooring, insulation — can easily reach $5,000–$20,000 or more. Prevention costs a fraction of repair.
Bob answers personally. Expect a same-day callback Mon–Fri 7 AM–7 PM.
