Water on the floor?
We pick up.

Before the first hard freeze

The first hard freeze is when “burst pipe” gets Googled at 2am. Front Range weather swings fast, and a sunny 60° afternoon can drop below freezing by morning. Do this list on a warm weekend, not the night it snows.

• Disconnect garden hosesA hose left on holds water in the spigot. That is where it freezes and splits, often inside the wall where you cannot see it.
• Shut off and drain outdoor spigotsIf there is an inside shutoff for the spigot, close it, then open the outside tap until it stops dripping.
• Insulate pipes in crawlspaces and garagesFoam sleeves from any hardware store. Start with pipes on outside walls and anything near a garage door.
• Know where your main water shutoff isUsually where the line enters the house: basement, crawlspace or a utility closet. Find it now and make sure it turns.
• Open cabinet doors on the coldest nightsSinks on outside walls get cold first. Open doors let warm room air reach the pipes.