How to Keep Pipes From Freezing

As temperatures start to drop in the late fall, there’s an increased risk of significant home damage: frozen pipes. If the water in your pipes freezes, it can cause pipes to burst, leading to potentially massive and costly damage. That’s why it’s crucial to know how to keep pipes from freezing in the first place—and what to do if they do freeze (or even burst).

How to Keep Pipes From Freezing

Preventing pipes from freezing is your number one defense against burst pipes in the winter. Here are 10 tips for keeping your pipes from freezing:

1. Insulate Pipes

Insulate your pipes before chilly weather sets in. Winterizing your pipes is an essential step in your fall home maintenance process to prevent serious damage during the coldest months of the year.

Pipe insulation costs $1.10 to $11 per linear foot for professional installation. To DIY, expect to spend $0.20 to $3 per linear foot of pipe insulation material.

Insulate pipes in unheated spaces, particularly attics, basements, and garages. Choose from the best pipe insulation options to keep your pipes from freezing even in extreme temperatures. Pay attention to the R-value and size when purchasing insulation: The higher the R-value, the better the insulation. Most pipe insulation is either 1/2 or 3/4 inches in diameter, so check your pipes before ordering.

2. Open Cabinet Doors

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One easy way to prevent freezing pipes is to let the warm air in your home circulate around the pipes. When you have the heat going, open up cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathrooms. This way, warm air can better reach the pipes in or behind the cabinets.

3. Close Garage Doors

While you want to open cabinet doors, you should close garage doors if water supply lines run through the garage. When it’s freezing outside, that cold air will enter the garage if the door is left open. This will make the temperature in the garage drop even lower, potentially leading to frozen pipes.

4. Keep the Heat On

If you’re going on vacation or visiting family over the holidays, keep the indoor temperature set to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent freezing. Many people set the thermostat lower at night to reduce utility bills, but a frozen or burst pipe will cost you far more. Keep the temperature at a minimum of 55 degrees, even at night.

5. Open Interior Doors

While closing the bedroom or bathroom door after leaving the room might be a habit, try to break it during the winter. Leaving interior doors open as much as possible will allow warm air to circulate evenly throughout the home. This can help keep enclosed pipes warm enough to avoid freezing.

6. Let Faucets Drip

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When the outside temperature reaches 20 degrees or lower, you’ll need to let some of the faucets in your home drip to help prevent freezing. Moving water creates energy and friction, which decreases the possibility of frozen pipes. This method works for all types of pipes, meaning you should do this to prevent your PEX pipes from freezing.

Here’s how to effectively let your faucets drip to keep your pipes from freezing:

• Identify faucets connected to pipes that have frozen previously and those that are exposed or against outdoor walls.

• Turn on these faucets to a drip or trickle.

• If water pipes for both hot and cold water are exposed, turn on both to a trickle to prevent either line from freezing.

This is one of the best preventative methods to take to keep pipes from freezing when you’re out of town.

7. Apply Electrical Heating Tape

Electrical heating tape can help warm pipes before they get too cold. Heating tape is actually a heating cable wrapped in electrical wire that plugs into an outlet to generate heat. There are manual or self-monitoring electrical heating tape options.

• Manual electrical heating tape: Wrap tape around the pipes before a cold snap, then plug in to activate.

• Self-monitoring heating tape: This heating tape uses a sensor to determine when pipes are too cold. The sensor will trigger the heating tape to turn on and warm the pipes.

8. Seal Cracks and Openings

Apply weather stripping and caulk where appropriate to repair any cracks and create a tight seal around openings near the pipes, especially if they’re near the exterior of your home. Seal up any windows and spaces around exterior doors, and fix any other imperfections that may let cold air in. Not only will this help keep your pipes from freezing, but it can also keep your home more comfortable.

Never tackled this home project before? Our step-by-step guide walks you through how to caulk like a pro.

9. Insulate Crawl Space

Insulate your crawl space to prevent warm air from being lost through the cracks. By keeping all that warm air inside of your home, you’ll spend less money trying to keep things warm and may not have to deal with pipes freezing as frequently. These benefits alone can make crawl space insulation worth it.

You can use polystyrene foam board, spray foam, or fiberglass batts to insulate your crawl space. It’s a fairly straightforward DIY project, but just in case, here are a few tips for insulating your crawl space.

10. Drain Outdoor Pools and Hoses

All hoses should be drained and stored during the winter. To do this, start by turning off your indoor water supply valve. This valve may be in your garage, basement, or crawl space. Next, remove hoses from the faucets, shake out any excess water, and put them in storage.

Next, turn your hose bibs on and leave them open through the winter. If your area gets a lot of snow and ice, you should winterize your outdoor faucets. You can do this by adding an insulation cover or getting freeze-proof faucets.

Additionally, as part of your outdoor pool maintenance, you should drain all the water before freezing weather sets in. You can also plug your pipes and clear them of water with a compressor, seal the skimmer, and then install a winter pool cover.

Signs Your Pipes Are Frozen

You’ll probably figure out one or more pipes are frozen in your home after you try to brush your teeth or take a shower on a cold morning—but no water comes from the faucet. To find the specific pipes that are frozen, look for these signs:

• No or low water flow coming from the fixture attached to the pipe

• Condensation (frozen or liquid) on the outside of your pipes

• Gurgling or banging from your pipes

• Small surface cracks

• Swollen pipes

• Odors coming from pipes or water

How to Thaw Frozen Pipes

You might be too late to stop the pipes from freezing, but you may be able to thaw them before the problem worsens. First and foremost, shut off the main water line to prevent serious damage in case a pipe bursts. Then, determine how to unfreeze your pipes based on whether they’re enclosed or exposed:

Enclosed Pipes

• Thaw pipes inside your home by turning up the thermostat. Open up doors and cabinets to help warm air circulate.

Exposed Pipes

• Use a hairdryer to heat 12-inch sections of the pipe until it is no longer frozen.

• Aim a space heater toward the pipes.

• Wrap exposed pipes in hot, damp towels. Replace the towel frequently as it cools.

What to Avoid If Your Pipes Freeze

Never use open flames to thaw frozen pipes, as this can be extremely dangerous. This includes blowtorches, propane heaters, and charcoal stoves. 

You should also avoid pouring boiling water down your drain pipes or on top of frozen pipes. Not only does this carry the risk of scalding you, but the drastic heat can damage the pipes, and the water you pour on the pipes may freeze, worsening the issue.

Also, if there’s standing water from a burst pipe, don’t turn on or use any appliances near or around the standing water. Doing so puts you in danger of electrocution, which can lead to serious injury.

What to Do if Frozen Pipes Burst

If your frozen pipe bursts, you need to act fast:

1. Turn off the main water supply. This prevents water from continuing to pour into your home.

2. Call a plumber. Just be prepared to pay steep costs for immediate help from your local emergency plumber, especially at night, on weekends, during the holidays, and when several people in your location are dealing with frozen pipes.

3. Drain your pipes. While you’re waiting for the plumber, drain what you can out of the pipes by turning on faucets and flushing toilets.

4. Assess the damage and clean up. You’ll want to assess any water damage that needs to be fixed. On average, water damage restoration costs nearly $3,500. Clean up and dry the area thoroughly with towels and fans to prevent mold damage. If you have homeowners insurance, you’ll want to file a claim as soon as possible.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

You may be able to thaw your pipes on your own, but if you’re not able to do so or if you’ve found a leak, it’s time to hire a plumber near you. Thawing pipes can be dangerous if you don’t do it correctly, so unless you have experience, it’s better to leave the job to the pros.

Note that fixing frozen pipes is something you shouldn’t put off until later. Call a plumber and schedule a visit as soon as possible to prevent the pipe problem from getting worse. If your frozen pipes are left unfixed, they can burst, which can lead to a plumbing emergency with costly repairs.

In general, plumbers cost $45 to $200 per hour. Costs are on the higher end in emergencies, like when your pipes are frozen and you need help fast.