How to Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter

When temperatures drop, unprotected pipes can freeze, burst, and flood your home in minutes. The good news: a few simple steps before and during a cold snap prevent almost all of it. Here's how to keep your plumbing safe all winter.

Why Frozen Pipes Are So Dangerous

Water expands as it freezes, putting enormous pressure on pipes until they crack or burst. A single burst pipe can release hundreds of gallons of water, causing thousands of dollars in damage before you even notice. Prevention is far cheaper than the repair.

Before the Cold Hits: Preparation

The best time to protect your pipes is before the first freeze. A little prep work in the fall pays off all season long.

Insulate Vulnerable Pipes

Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and easy to install on exposed pipes in basements, garages, attics, and crawl spaces. It's the single most effective step you can take.

Which Pipes Are Most at Risk

Pipes along exterior walls, in unheated spaces, and outdoor faucets are the first to freeze. These should be at the top of your list.

A Quick Walk-Through

Walk your home and note every pipe in an unheated or drafty area. Those are the ones to wrap first.

Pro Tip

Don't forget the outdoor hose bibs — disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain outdoor faucet lines before winter sets in.

Seal Drafts and Gaps

Cold air sneaking in through cracks near pipes can freeze them even when insulation is in place. Seal gaps around windows, vents, and where pipes enter the home with caulk or expanding foam.

During a Cold Snap

When temperatures plunge, a few simple habits keep water flowing.

Keep Water Moving

Let a faucet drip slightly on the coldest nights. Moving water is far less likely to freeze than still water sitting in the pipe.

Maintain Heat

Keep your home at a steady temperature day and night, and open the cabinet doors under sinks so warm air can reach the pipes behind them.

If Your Pipes Already Froze

Acting fast can stop a frozen pipe from becoming a burst one.

What to Do Right Away

Turn off your main water valve, open the affected faucet, and gently warm the pipe with a hair dryer or towels — never an open flame. If you can't locate the freeze or the pipe has already burst, call a licensed plumber immediately.