Elk River restoration contractor urges homeowners north and west of Minneapolis to get outdoor pipes ready now, before the first freeze.
Elk River, MN (PRUnderground) September 25th, 2026
Kiser Construction, a damage restoration contractor based in Elk River, is urging homeowners in the north and northwest metro to get their pipes ready for winter now. The reason is simple. Freezing nights often reach the outer suburbs before they show up in the official Twin Cities reading at MSP Airport.
The National Weather Service says the Twin Cities normally see their first freeze between Oct. 1 and Oct. 10. St. Cloud's normal first freeze comes sooner, between Sept. 21 and Sept. 30.
Minnesota DNR records show the same pattern closer to home. The median first freeze at MSP Airport falls on Oct. 8. In Buffalo, it's Oct. 2. In Cambridge, it's Sept. 25. Forecasters have noted that the metro's urban heat island can keep the city core above freezing on nights when outlying areas freeze.
Kiser crews say outdoor faucets with a garden hose still attached are among the first pipes to fail. Ice traps water in the line, and the pressure has nowhere to go. The split often sits inside the wall. It may not show until the faucet is turned on in spring and water runs into the wall instead of the hose.
"Folks up here get the cold before the city does," said Darren Kiser, owner of Kiser Construction. "If your hose is still hooked up when that first freeze hits, you may not know anything happened until spring. Take ten minutes this weekend and pull the hoses."
Nationally, according to the Insurance Information Institute, about one in 60 insured homes has a property damage claim caused by water damage or freezing each year. From 2019 to 2023, only wind and hail claims were more frequent, and the average water damage and freezing claim was $15,400.
Kiser Construction recommends these steps:
Before the first freeze, disconnect and drain garden hoses, plus any splitters, timers, or nozzles.
Find your main water shutoff valve and make sure it turns. On city water, it's usually on the basement wall facing the street, near the meter. On a private well, look near the pressure tank.
Insulate pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and basement rim joists.
During cold snaps, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
If you travel, keep the heat at 55 degrees or higher and have someone check the house.
Next spring, the first time you use an outdoor faucet, check the basement wall behind it for water.
"The damage isn't about the size of the pipe. It's about the hours," Kiser said. "A pipe that lets go in an empty house runs until somebody finds it. Knowing where your shutoff is can turn a big loss into a small one."
Kiser's full winter checklist and first steps after a break are on its burst pipe cleanup page. Homeowners who find water can reach the 24/7 emergency line at (612) 518-8852.
About Kiser Construction
Kiser Construction is a licensed damage restoration contractor based in Elk River, Minn. Since 2003, the company has helped homeowners and businesses recover from water, fire, and storm damage across Sherburne, Wright, and Anoka counties and the Twin Cities north metro. Kiser is IICRC certified and licensed in Minnesota (BC416441). Learn more about its water damage restoration services at kiserrenovations.com.
Media Contact
Darren Kiser, Owner
Kiser Construction
Office: (763) 633-2010
