How to Prevent Pipes from Freezing

Keep pipes warm by insulating exposed areas, maintaining steady heat flow, and letting faucets drip during extreme cold spells.

  1. Wrap Every Vulnerable Pipe. Wrap foam pipe insulation around any pipes in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics, and garages. Cut the foam sleeves to length with a utility knife and slip them over the pipes. Secure joints with duct tape. Pay special attention to pipes near exterior walls, windows, and doors where cold air can reach them.
  2. Block Cold Air at Entry Points. Use caulk or expanding foam to seal gaps where pipes enter your home through walls, floors, or the foundation. Look for drafts around pipe penetrations and fill any openings that let cold air reach the pipes. This prevents cold air from flowing directly onto your plumbing.
  3. Let Heat Reach Hidden Pipes. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors when temperatures drop below freezing. This allows warm air from your heated home to circulate around pipes hidden inside cabinets, especially those on exterior walls. The warm air circulation prevents these concealed pipes from reaching freezing temperatures.
  4. Keep Water Moving When It Counts. Turn on both hot and cold faucets to create a slow, steady drip when outdoor temperatures fall below 20°F. Moving water is much harder to freeze than standing water. Focus on faucets connected to pipes that run through unheated areas or along exterior walls. Even a pencil-thin stream of water can prevent freezing.
  5. Never Drop Below 55 Degrees. Keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F even when you're away from home. Avoid drastic temperature changes that can cause pipes to freeze during cold snaps. If you're leaving for an extended period in winter, ask someone to check your home daily and keep the heat on.
  6. Clear the Lines Before Winter. Remove all garden hoses from outdoor faucets before the first freeze. Drain the hoses completely and store them indoors. Turn off the water supply to outdoor faucets from inside your home, then open the outdoor faucet to drain any remaining water. This prevents the outdoor faucet and connecting pipes from freezing and bursting.