Key Takeaways
- Keep the house warm and steady — a consistent temperature, even when you are away, keeps pipes above freezing.
- Insulate exposed pipes in unheated spots like the basement, crawlspace, and garage, and seal nearby drafts.
- Let vulnerable faucets drip on the coldest nights — moving water is much harder to freeze.
- Be ready — know where your main shutoff is, and keep a plumber’s number handy for emergency plumbing.
A frozen pipe is one of winter’s most expensive home emergencies — when it bursts, it can flood a room with hundreds of gallons in minutes. The good news is that preventing one is cheap and easy, and these five habits head off almost every freeze before it starts.
Here are five simple ways to keep your pipes from freezing. (If yours are already frozen, our guide on whether to shut off the water walks through what to do right now.)
Why Preventing Frozen Pipes Matters
It is worth understanding the stakes, because they are higher than most people realize. When water freezes it expands, and that expansion puts intense pressure on the pipe until it cracks or splits. The pipe often holds while frozen, then bursts as it thaws — and a burst supply line can release several gallons a minute, soaking floors, walls, ceilings, and belongings before you even notice. The repair, the water cleanup, and the damaged drywall and flooring add up fast. Against all that, an afternoon of prevention is one of the best trades you can make as a homeowner.
1. Keep Your Home Warm and Sealed
The simplest defense is a steady indoor temperature. Keep the thermostat set to at least 55°F, even overnight and when you travel — the small heating cost is nothing next to a burst pipe. Then hunt down the drafts letting cold air near your plumbing: weatherstrip doors, caulk gaps around windows, and seal openings where pipes pass through exterior walls. Cold air finding its way to a pipe is what starts most freezes.
2. Insulate Your Pipes
Pipes running through unheated spaces — the basement, crawlspace, garage, attic, and exterior walls — are the ones that freeze. Wrap them with foam pipe sleeves, which cost only a few dollars, slip right on, and are easy to fit yourself. For pipes in especially cold spots, or ones that have frozen before, heat tape (a thermostat-controlled heating cable) adds a reliable extra layer of protection. Improving the insulation in those areas overall helps too, keeping the whole space warmer around the plumbing. Do not overlook outdoor spigots and any lines to a hose bib — drain and cover them before the first hard freeze.
3. Let Vulnerable Faucets Drip
On the coldest nights, open the faucets fed by at-risk pipes just enough for a slow trickle. Moving water is far harder to freeze than still water, and the open tap also relieves pressure so that even if some ice forms, the pipe is much less likely to burst. Focus on faucets on exterior walls or in unheated areas — those are the ones worth the little bit of wasted water.
4. Open Cabinet Doors
The pipes under your kitchen and bathroom sinks often sit against a cold exterior wall, tucked inside a closed cabinet that blocks your home’s warm air. On cold nights, open those cabinet doors so heat can circulate around the pipes. If you have young children or pets, just move any cleaners or chemicals out of reach first so the open cabinet stays safe.
5. Be Ready for an Emergency
Even with precautions, a hard freeze can catch a pipe you missed — so know your plan before you need it. Find your main water shutoff valve now (usually where the line enters the home, often near the water heater) so you can cut the water fast if a pipe bursts. Keep basic tools and a trusted plumber’s number handy. And if you head out of town in winter, either keep the heat on or have the plumbing properly drained. For a home that freezes up year after year, our plumbing team can find and fix the weak spots so it stops happening.
When to Call a Professional
If you are not sure which pipes are at risk, your home has a history of freezing, or you want it properly winterized before a long trip, a licensed plumber can insulate the vulnerable runs, add heat tape, and seal the drafts for good. And if a pipe does freeze or burst, that is the time to call right away — the sooner the water is off and the line is handled, the less damage you deal with. A burst pipe is an emergency plumbing situation.
Keep Your Pipes Safe With Degree of Comfort
Whether you want your home winterized or you are dealing with a frozen or burst pipe right now, Degree of Comfort can help. We handle pipe insulation, repair, and replacement for homeowners across Cincinnati and the surrounding Tri-State, including Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana, and we are family-owned, licensed and insured, with upfront, flat-rate pricing and a satisfaction guarantee.
Want peace of mind before the cold hits? Call (513) 586-5107, ask about plumbing winterization, or request a free estimate and let our team handle it.
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