Skip to content 
Knowing how to keep pipes from freezing can help you avoid one of winter’s most frustrating plumbing problems. When temperatures drop, water inside vulnerable pipes can freeze and create pressure within the plumbing system. If a pipe cracks or bursts, the damage may not become obvious until temperatures rise and the ice begins to thaw.
At Jerm’s Plumbing, Heating & Air, we know that preparing your plumbing before a cold snap can make a big difference. Insulating exposed pipes, keeping your home warm, and paying attention to vulnerable areas can help protect your plumbing when freezing weather arrives.
Why Do Pipes Freeze?
Pipes freeze when the water inside them is exposed to cold temperatures long enough to turn to ice. Plumbing in heated areas of your home usually has more protection, while pipes running through garages, crawl spaces, exterior walls, and other colder areas are more vulnerable.
As ice forms, it can block the flow of water through the pipe. Pressure may then build between the blockage and a closed faucet. If enough pressure develops, the pipe can crack or burst.
The damage is not always immediately visible. Ice can temporarily prevent water from escaping through a damaged section. Once the ice melts and normal water flow returns, water can leak into walls, flooring, cabinets, or other areas of your home.
Understanding which pipes are most vulnerable is an important first step toward preventing the problem.
Which Pipes Are Most Likely to Freeze?
Not every pipe in your home faces the same level of risk. Plumbing surrounded by warm indoor air is generally better protected than pipes located in areas exposed to colder temperatures.
Pay extra attention to pipes located in:
- Garages
- Crawl spaces
- Unheated basements
- Attics
- Exterior walls
- Cabinets along outside walls
- Areas near drafts or gaps
- Outdoor plumbing connections
Plumbing can also become vulnerable when cold outdoor air enters through openings around windows, doors, vents, or utility penetrations.
Before winter arrives, check the accessible plumbing around your home. Identifying vulnerable areas ahead of time gives you an opportunity to make changes before temperatures fall.
How to Keep Pipes From Freezing: 8 Simple Steps
Preventing frozen pipes is much easier than dealing with a burst pipe and the water damage that can follow. A combination of insulation, heat, and good winter habits can provide additional protection.
1. Insulate Exposed Plumbing
Start with pipes running through areas that receive little or no heat. Pipe insulation can provide an additional barrier between the plumbing and cold surrounding air.
Foam sleeves and other materials made for insulating plumbing can be installed around accessible pipes. Pay particular attention to pipes in garages, crawl spaces, basements, and other areas that become noticeably colder than the rest of your home.
Do not assume a pipe is protected simply because it is indoors. If the surrounding area gets cold enough, the water inside can still freeze.
2. Keep Garage Doors Closed
If plumbing runs through your garage, keep the garage door closed as much as possible during freezing weather.
An open garage door allows outdoor air to quickly lower the temperature around exposed pipes. Closing it will not turn an unheated garage into a warm room, but it can reduce unnecessary exposure to cold air.
This is especially important overnight and during extended periods of freezing temperatures.
3. Open Cabinets Under Sinks
Some kitchen and bathroom plumbing runs through exterior walls. Closed cabinets can limit the amount of warm indoor air that reaches those pipes.
During particularly cold weather, opening cabinet doors beneath sinks can help warmer room air circulate around the plumbing.
If you have children or pets, move household cleaners, chemicals, and other potentially harmful products to a safe location before leaving cabinets open.
This simple step can be particularly useful overnight when temperatures are expected to fall significantly.
4. Let Vulnerable Faucets Drip
During extremely cold weather, allowing a small amount of water to flow through a vulnerable line may help reduce the risk of freezing.
You do not need to leave the faucet running at full strength. A small trickle may be enough to keep water moving and can also help relieve pressure if ice starts forming inside the pipe.
Focus on faucets connected to plumbing that runs through exterior walls or other cold areas rather than leaving every faucet in your home running unnecessarily.
5. Seal Drafts Near Plumbing
Cold air does not need a large opening to reach vulnerable pipes. Small gaps around windows, doors, vents, wiring, and plumbing penetrations can expose nearby pipes to colder temperatures.
Look for noticeable drafts around areas where pipes enter walls or pass through unheated spaces. Appropriate air sealing can help reduce the amount of cold outdoor air reaching your plumbing.
Sealing drafts may also make your home more comfortable and reduce unnecessary heat loss during winter.
6. Disconnect Outdoor Hoses
Garden hoses should be disconnected before freezing temperatures arrive.
Leaving a hose connected to an outdoor faucet can trap water around the fixture and connected plumbing. When that water freezes, it can contribute to damage.
Disconnect and store hoses before winter. Depending on how your outdoor plumbing is designed, you may also need to shut off and drain exterior water lines.
Taking care of outdoor plumbing in the fall gives you one less thing to worry about when the first hard freeze arrives.
7. Keep Your Home Heated
Maintaining indoor heat is an important part of how to prevent pipes from freezing.
Avoid turning your thermostat extremely low during freezing weather, even if you are trying to reduce heating costs. Areas inside exterior walls, cabinets, garages, or other colder spaces may already be several degrees cooler than your main living areas.
Your home also needs heat when you are away. If you are leaving for a winter trip, keep the heating system running at a reasonable temperature rather than turning it off completely.
8. Watch the Weather
Pay attention when unusually cold temperatures are in the forecast.
Before a cold snap arrives, take a few minutes to check vulnerable plumbing, close the garage door, disconnect any remaining hoses, open appropriate cabinets, and make sure your heating system is working.
If certain pipes have frozen in previous winters, pay particular attention to those areas. Unless something has changed, they may still be vulnerable.
Learning how to keep pipes from freezing is largely about being prepared. A few simple steps before and during freezing weather can help reduce the chance of a plumbing emergency.
How to Prevent Pipes From Freezing While You Are Away
Winter vacations require some additional planning. You will not be home to notice a sudden loss of water pressure, unusual plumbing sounds, or a developing leak.
Keep your heating system operating while you are gone. Your thermostat should be set high enough to provide adequate protection for the plumbing throughout the home.
Check that exterior doors and windows are properly closed before leaving. If you know there are areas where cold air regularly enters, address those drafts before your trip.
For longer absences, consider asking a trusted friend, relative, or neighbor to check your home periodically. This can be especially helpful if extremely cold weather is expected while you are away.
If the property will remain vacant for an extended period, a plumber can recommend whether additional winterization is appropriate.
How Can You Tell If You Have Frozen Pipes?
One of the most obvious signs of frozen pipes is little or no water coming from a faucet during cold weather.
You may also notice:
- A sudden drop in water pressure
- Frost on accessible pipes
- Unusual bulging along a pipe
- Strange plumbing noises
- A faucet that stops working during freezing weather
- One area of the home suddenly losing water
If only one fixture is affected, the frozen section may be somewhere along the pipe supplying that particular fixture. When several fixtures stop working, the problem may involve a larger portion of the plumbing system.
Do not assume that a frozen pipe is undamaged just because you cannot see a crack. A damaged area may not begin leaking until the ice melts.
How to Unfreeze Pipes Safely
If you are wondering how to unfreeze pipes, the first step is to determine whether you can safely locate and access the frozen section.
Start by opening the faucet connected to the affected line. Leaving it open allows water to escape as the ice begins to melt and can help relieve pressure within the pipe.
For an accessible frozen section, gentle heat may help gradually thaw the ice. Warm indoor air or another safe heating method can be used carefully.
Never use an open flame, blowtorch, or another device that could create a fire hazard or damage the pipe. Heating a frozen section too aggressively can also create unnecessary risks.
Begin warming the pipe near the faucet and gradually work toward the frozen area when possible. Continue until normal water flow returns.
If you cannot find the frozen section, the pipe is located inside a wall, or you are unsure how to proceed safely, call a plumber instead of trying to reach inaccessible plumbing yourself.
What Should You Do After a Pipe Freezes?
Once the immediate problem has been resolved, try to determine why the pipe froze in the first place.
Ask yourself:
- Was the pipe adequately insulated?
- Was it located near a draft?
- Did the garage door remain open?
- Was the heat turned too low?
- Is the pipe inside an exterior wall?
- Has the same section frozen before?
The answers can help you prevent the same problem during the next cold snap.
If a pipe repeatedly freezes, adding insulation or addressing drafts may help. In some cases, a plumber may recommend another solution based on the pipe’s location and condition.
When Should You Call a Plumber?
Not every frozen pipe automatically requires professional repair. However, there are situations when attempting to handle the problem yourself may not be the safest option.
Consider calling a plumber if:
- You cannot locate the frozen section
- The affected pipe is inside a wall
- You notice a crack, split, or bulge
- Water begins leaking during thawing
- Several fixtures have lost water
- The same pipe freezes repeatedly
- You cannot safely access the plumbing
- You are unsure how to unfreeze pipes without causing damage
Professional help can also be useful when you want to identify why a particular area keeps freezing and what can be done to protect it in the future.
Protect Your Home From Frozen Pipes
Knowing how to keep pipes from freezing can help you prepare before cold weather puts your plumbing at risk. Insulating exposed pipes, maintaining indoor heat, sealing drafts, and taking action before a hard freeze can reduce the chance of dealing with a burst pipe and unexpected water damage.
If you are dealing with frozen pipes or are unsure how to prevent pipes from freezing in vulnerable areas of your home, Jerm’s Plumbing, Heating & Air can help. Contact our team today to have your plumbing checked and get your home ready for freezing weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
Freezing weather can put vulnerable plumbing at risk, but a little preparation can help. Here are answers to some common questions about protecting your pipes when temperatures fall.
At what temperature can pipes freeze?
Water freezes at 32°F, but pipes do not necessarily freeze as soon as outdoor temperatures reach that point. Insulation, wind exposure, indoor temperature, pipe location, and the length of time temperatures remain below freezing all affect the risk.
Should I drip my faucets when it freezes?
Allowing a small trickle of water through faucets connected to vulnerable pipes may help during extreme cold. Moving water can be more difficult to freeze, while an open faucet can also help relieve pressure if ice begins forming.
Does opening cabinets help prevent frozen pipes?
Yes, particularly when plumbing is located inside cabinets along exterior walls. Opening the doors allows warmer indoor air to circulate around the pipes. Make sure cleaning supplies and chemicals are moved away from children and pets.
Can I use a hair dryer to unfreeze pipes?
Gentle heat may be used on an accessible frozen pipe when it can be done safely. Avoid open flames or equipment that could damage the plumbing or create a fire hazard. If the frozen section is inaccessible or you are uncertain about the safest approach, contact a plumber.
How long does it take frozen pipes to thaw?
There is no single timeframe. It depends on the length and location of the frozen section, surrounding temperature, pipe material, and thawing method. Continue monitoring the pipe for leaks as water flow returns.
If you’re wondering how to keep pipes from freezing this winter, Jerm’s Plumbing, Heating & Air can help you protect vulnerable plumbing before problems start. Contact our team today for professional plumbing service and added peace of mind during freezing weather.