Frozen Spigot=Drenched Theater Room

A frozen spigot equaled a drenched theater room for one of our clients. The homeowners did not disconnect the outside hose spigot in the fall. Water backed up into the spigot line, freezing and cracking the pipe when the air temperature turned cold. But although the pipe was cracked, the damage was not initially evident. While the spigot worked fine and showed no evidence of damage the next spring, the homeowners were unaware that water was spraying the ceiling of their theater room.

The water damaged not only the ceiling, but the surrounding walls, the custom woodwork and carpet, and the leather furniture. Restoring the theater room required tearing the drywall down to the studs while preserving the custom woodwork. We carefully tore out the woodwork, reinsulated and replaced the drywall, and re-installed the custom wood trim pieces and panels.

Tips to prevent a frozen spigot line

• Disconnect garden hoses from the spigot before air temperatures reach below 32 degrees F.

• When possible, close the shut off valve for the outside spigot.

• After shutting off the valve, open the hose bib on the spigot to allow any remaining water to drain out

• Keep the outside valve open to allow any water remaining in the pipe to expand without causing the pipe to break.

• Install an exterior, insulated faucet jacket to protect your outdoor faucet and the line running into your home.

Watch the home theater restoration video