How to Keep Pipes From Freezing

Outdoor connections, garages, crawl spaces, attics, cabinets, and exterior walls deserve the first look.

Identify supply lines in unheated or drafty areas and confirm the main shutoff is reachable and operable before cold weather. Follow local and manufacturer guidance for draining outdoor hoses, irrigation branches, and seasonal fixtures.

Pipe sleeves and controlled warm airflow reduce exposure; open flames do not.

Use products intended for pipe insulation, keep garage doors closed where water lines run, and open sink cabinets when needed so room air can reach plumbing. Move cleaners away from children and never improvise with a torch or combustible heater.

A modest action before the coldest hours is easier than emergency thawing.

Maintain heat, follow utility or plumbing advice about a small faucet drip for an exposed branch, and arrange a responsible home check if you travel. The Red Cross advises leaving heat on and not lower than 55°F when away during cold weather.

A trickle can indicate ice, but a split pipe may leak as it thaws.

Keep the affected faucet open and apply only controlled, attended heat methods recommended by safety guidance. Never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame. Shut off water and call a licensed plumber if a pipe has burst, the frozen area is inaccessible, or flow does not return.