It was a bitterly cold January morning—the kind where you regret not grabbing a thicker jacket just to check the mailbox. As I stepped outside, I noticed something strange—a thin layer of ice shimmering around the foundation. Confused, I headed back inside. But when I spotted a damp patch on the basement floor, my confusion quickly turned to panic. As I descended the stairs, the sound of water rushing from a burst pipe echoed through the basement, and I knew I needed help.

Frantically, I called Fry Heating. The customer service representative on the other end could hear the panic in my voice. “First thing,” she said calmly, “let’s minimize the damage. Do you know how to shut off the main water supply?” I didn’t, but she walked me through it step by step. Once the water was off, I felt a small sense of relief, knowing the situation wasn’t getting any worse.

Steve, the plumber from Fry, arrived quickly—his friendly, reassuring demeanor a welcome sight. He immediately started investigating the cause of the burst pipe. “You did a great job shutting off the water quickly,” he said, noticing my anxious expression. “Catching it early like that was lucky—not everyone does.”

He continued his inspection and glanced up at me. “Did you leave a hose hooked up outside?” My curiosity piqued. “Yes, I think so,” I replied, not fully realizing what must have happened.

Steve nodded. “There’s your problem. When you leave the hose connected, water gets trapped in the sillcock. It freezes, expands, and—bam!—the pipe bursts. You’ve got to ‘get naked’ before winter—disconnect everything and let the pipes breathe.”

The phrase caught me off guard and made me chuckle despite the situation. “Get naked?” I asked, smiling at the absurdity of it.

Steve grinned. “It’s a catchy way to remember, but it’s serious business. A lot of folks forget, and it can lead to big headaches.”

As Steve got to work replacing the damaged pipe, we talked more about winter maintenance. “Water damage is one of the worst things to deal with,” he said. “It really shakes your sense of security. But simple tasks like unhooking the hose can make a world of difference.”

By the time Steve finished, the basement was drying out, and I felt a mix of relief and lingering anxiety. Water damage wasn’t just about the mess—it left a lasting sense of vulnerability. But thanks to Steve and the quick response from Fry, I was starting to feel a little more secure.

As he packed up his tools, Steve gave me one last reminder: “Next fall, remember—get naked. Trust me, it’ll save you a lot of trouble.”

Now, every autumn, I make sure to unhook those hoses, Steve’s advice echoing in my mind. I learned the hard way that even small tasks can have big consequences. But I also learned to keep my sense of humor, even when things go wrong. After all, sometimes a little laughter is the best way to handle life’s cold surprises.

Thank you to Cindy for sharing your homeowner experience