When the calls come
We can predict the next winter emergency surge by watching the forecast. The Lower Mainland's mild climate is a setup: temperatures sit at 5–8°C for weeks, then a cold front drops things to -5°C overnight for 2–3 days. Pipes that were fine all season fail in the first 12 hours of that drop.
The pattern: one in ten Vancouver-area homes has a plumbing run that's marginally insulated. Marginal is fine at +5°C. At -5°C it's a burst pipe waiting to happen.
What fails first
Outdoor hose bibs with garden hoses still attached top the list. Water stays in the bib and freezes back into the wall. The pipe ruptures inside the wall cavity, but you don't know until the thaw — when water starts pouring through the drywall.
Crawlspace runs in detached homes are second. Most Lower Mainland crawlspaces have vents that draw in outside air, and if the supply lines under the house aren't insulated, they freeze hard.
Exterior-wall plumbing in north-facing rooms is third. Concrete construction insulates poorly along that face — the pipe runs feel ambient temperature and can drop below freezing during a cold snap.
Outbuilding lines (garage sinks, suite bathrooms, irrigation backflow preventers) are fourth and often forgotten.
Prevention checklist (do this in October)
Disconnect every garden hose from every outdoor bib. Drain the hoses, store them indoors, and shut off the indoor isolation valve for that bib if you have one. The whole task takes 15 minutes for most homes.
Insulate any exposed pipe in crawlspaces and unconditioned cavities. Foam pipe insulation is cheap at any hardware store and takes an afternoon. Pay attention to fittings and elbows — those freeze first.
Set the thermostat no lower than 12°C if you're going on a winter vacation. Below that, ambient temperatures inside walls can drop below freezing during a hard cold snap.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets on north-facing walls during a cold snap. Lets warm room air reach the supply lines. Sounds dumb. Saves pipes.
Know where your main water shut-off is. Test it. If it's seized, replace it before winter — usually a same-day fix. The 30 seconds it takes to shut off the main during an active leak is the difference between a wet floor and a flooded house.
When to call us versus wait until morning
Call right now: active flooding, sewage backup, no water at all, gas smell, or any leak you can't shut off. Don't wait. The damage compounds every minute.
Can wait until morning: a single slow drain, a dripping faucet that doesn't pool, a toilet running constantly (just shut off the toilet's local valve to stop the bill from climbing). Call us at 8am.
When in doubt, call. (604) 870-1442 is live 24/7. We'll triage on the phone, give you what to do in the meantime, and dispatch only if it actually needs same-night response. There's no charge for the phone consultation.