How To Avoid Burst Pipes With Maine Facing Coldest Temps In Years

I was one of the thousands who dealt with burst pipes in Maine two years ago, and I now know what to do.

The last time Maine saw temperatures as low as this week was in 2023. We won't get quite as cold, but it will be the coldest temps we've seen since. On February 3, 2023, temps dipped to double digits below zero. The wind gave Maine some of the most extreme cold the state had seen in decades, with the overnight temperature in Portland dipping to 14 degrees below zero with a wind chill of 45 degrees below. And pipes burst everywhere!

Just how cold is Maine going to be?

Maine is dealing with an Arctic blast. The good news is that it's a quick blast that will only last a couple of days. But it will be chilly, and there are ways to protect those pipes. I mean, look at mine! Water did that, and then water flooded like nobody's business!

How can I avoid burst pipes in my Maine home?

The biggest tip that would have saved me from having an emergency visit from Wayne's Plumbing and Heating was to have my faucets on just a bit. I ALMOST did that, but figured the house was warm, freezing pipes would never happen. But I didn't realize that I had pipes near an outside wall, and yes - no matter how warm the house was, those pipes froze and burst. Then they had to smash through to get to them in a bathroom closet.

READ MORE: Winter Driving in Maine: Let’s Stop the Madness on the Roads

But the broken pipes were found, repaired and the weekend emergency was over. I cannot thank Wayne's Heating and Plumbing enough. I will forever remain grateful for their quick solution. Plumbers and fire crews all over Maine were at capacity that fine weekend in 2023. Let's avoid that and if you have any worries of pipes freezing, turn on your faucets to a slow trickle to keep that water flowing!

Here are some warming shelters in Maine, in case you need to warm up!