How to Prevent Pipes From Bursting in Freezing Weather

When the temperature drops, the stakes for your home’s plumbing rise. A single burst pipe can cause thousands of dollars in water damage and weeks of restoration headaches. Understanding why pipes freeze—and taking proactive steps to stop it—is the best investment you can make this winter.

Why Do Pipes Burst?

It’s a common misconception that the ice itself pushes through the metal or plastic. In reality, when water freezes, it expands. This expansion creates extreme hydraulic pressure between the ice blockage and the closed faucet. Eventually, the pipe reaches its breaking point and yields.

Essential Steps to Prevent Frozen Pipes

1. Insulate Vulnerable Pipes

Focus on pipes in unheated areas such as the attic, crawl space, garage, and basement.

    Use foam pipe sleeves or "heat tape."

    Ensure there are no gaps in the insulation, especially at joints and elbows.

2. Let the Faucets Drip

When the forecast calls for a deep freeze, turn on your faucets to a slow drip.

    Why it works: Moving water is harder to freeze, but more importantly, an open faucet provides a relief valve for the pressure buildup if ice does form.

    Focus on faucets located on exterior walls.

3. Keep Interior Doors Open

Allow warm air to circulate throughout the house.

    Cabinet Doors: Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to let the home’s heat reach the plumbing under the sink.

    Room Doors: Keep all interior doors open to maintain a consistent temperature across the floor plan.

4. Seal Air Leaks

Cold air whistling through a small gap can freeze a nearby pipe in hours.

    Check around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and windows.

    Use caulk or spray foam to seal any holes in exterior walls.

5. Maintain a Consistent Thermostat

It might be tempting to lower the heat at night to save on bills, but extreme cold is not the time for "Eco Mode."

    Keep your thermostat at the same temperature day and night.

    If you are leaving town, never set your heat lower than 55°F (13°C).

Outdoor Maintenance Checklist

Before the first frost hits, handle your exterior plumbing:

    Disconnect Hoses: A frozen garden hose can track ice back into the house pipes.

    Shut Off Outdoor Valves: Drain the water from lines leading to outside faucets.

    Use Faucet Covers: These inexpensive foam domes provide an extra layer of protection for outdoor hose bibs.

What to Do If a Pipe Is Already Frozen

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you likely have a freeze.

    Keep the faucet open.

    Apply heat safely: Use a hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or towels soaked in hot water.

    Avoid open flames: Never use a blowtorch or propane heater to thaw a pipe; this is a major fire hazard and can damage the pipe itself.