When pipes are at risk
Pipes in attics, crawl spaces, garages and outside walls are most at risk when it stays in the low 20s or colder for several hours.
Many metro homes run plumbing through attics and exterior walls because winters here are usually mild. A few days well below freezing can catch them off guard.
Before the cold snap
Disconnect garden hoses, cover outdoor spigots, and wrap exposed pipes in unheated spaces with foam pipe insulation from a hardware store.
Find your main shut-off valve now, so you can reach it fast. Our guide on how to shut off your water shows where it usually is.
During a hard freeze
Let a thin stream drip from faucets on outside walls, open the cabinet doors under sinks, and keep the thermostat steady day and night.
Moving water is harder to freeze, and open cabinets let the house’s warm air reach the pipes behind them.
If you’re leaving town
Keep the heat on, no lower than 55 degrees, and ask someone to check the house. For a long trip, consider shutting off the main valve.
If a pipe freezes
If a faucet only trickles, the pipe may be frozen. Keep the faucet open and warm the area with a hair dryer, kept well away from water.
Never use an open flame. If you can’t find the frozen spot or reach it safely, call a plumber. If the pipe bursts, shut off the main valve and see our guide to the first hour after a frozen pipe bursts.
