Prevent frozen water pipes

Cold temperatures can cause water lines to freeze — inside your house and out. Learn how you can help prevent pipes from freezing, and what to do if your pipes have frozen.

Someone disconnecting their outside water hose for winter.

How to prevent pipes from freezing

Here are a few simple things you can do to lower your risk and help keep your pipes safe this winter:

Keep the heat on: Keep your home heated at normal levels to avoid cold spots, especially in areas like basements or crawl spaces where the water line enters your home.
Insulate your pipes: Wrap water lines near outer walls or doors with insulation. Wrap exterior water lines with heat tape.
Keep water running: Turn on your taps regularly. Even a slow drip of hot or cold water can help prevent freezing.
Shut off outdoor hoses: Disconnect and turn off outdoor hose faucets. If they freeze, they can burst and may cause water damage in your home.
Don't forget about outdoor water features: If you have a pool or fountain, keep the pump running to circulate water and prevent freezing.
Winterize your irrigation system: Insulate the main box and any above-ground components. Shut off the irrigation timer and the main valve, usually located near your water meter.

Someone insulating a copper water pipe to prevent it from freezing.

Prevent frozen pipes when you're on vacation

If you're going away during the winter, here’s how to keep your home safe while you’re gone:

Leave your heat on: You can lower the temperature, but not too low and don't turn it off completely.
Run your taps: Ask your housesitter to run each tap for a few minutes during their visit. It helps keep water moving through the pipes.

Get more tips on how to prepare your home for winter vacation.

How to check if pipes are frozen

If you suspect that your pipes are frozen, here's what to look for:

No water or just a trickle: Turn on all your faucets and flush each toilet. If water isn't flowing and there is no known water main break in your area, it is likely you have a frozen service line.
Frost on pipes or fixtures: Check exposed pipes under sinks or in an unfinished basement. If you see frost or ice, that's a sign your water line may be frozen.

How to fix frozen pipes

It's important to act quickly and thaw your pipes. Over time, freezing extends further along the line, making it more difficult and time consuming to thaw. The longer a pipe stays frozen, the more likely it is to burst.

Thaw pipes safely

Fix frozen pipes, and thaw them safely, to avoid damage to your pipe, line or plumbing system:

Never use an open flame as it's dangerous and can damage your pipes.
Use gentle heat with a hair dryer, space heater, or heat lamp to warm a narrow pipe. Keep the heat source away from water and flammable materials.
Do not attempt in tight spaces where you do not have proper clearance and ventilation.

Get help

If you're not sure what to do, or the pipe won't thaw, contact a plumbing or heating company for help.