How to Prevent Freezing Pipes & What to Do if You Haven’t Prepared

Water damage from frozen pipes can be a costly venture — according to Homeadvisor.com, it costs $864 on average to repair damage to a home’s main water service line. And that doesn’t include potential property damage from flooding or leaking.

Because water expands when it freezes, pressure on water pipes can force them to burst, regardless of the pipe’s strength or size. You may not even know your pipe has burst because the water has turned to ice. Once the temperature warms, though, thawing will begin — as will leaking and flooding.

No matter if you’re leaving town or having severe winter weather, there are several ways to protect your pipes from freezing.

Exposure to elements = danger

Pipes most exposed to the elements are those most likely to freeze. This includes those along the exterior walls of your home, such as lawn sprinkler lines, outdoor hoses, or swimming pool lines. But exposed pipes also include those in unheated or colder interior locations like basements, crawl spaces, garages and under the kitchen sink. Additionally, if vents or other exterior penetrations are not adequately sealed or insulated they can exposure adjacent pipes to cold air, resulting in freezing.

Before winter, inspect your home and take the following actions to prevent freezing pipes:

• Insulate both hot and cold water pipes on the exterior walls of your home with pipe sleeves, UL-listed heat tape or heat cable.
• If your hose bibs are not “frost free” consider upgrades prior to the winter.
• Remove exterior hoses from hose bibs, drain, and install insulated covers if they are not frost free.
• Inspect all vents and other exterior wall penetrations. Check to see that all penetrations are well sealed and insulated. Ensure vents are adequate flaps to prevent cold air from blowing into the house which could freeze pipes.

During the winter, do the following:

• Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs.
• Keep garage doors closed to further insulate pipes.
• Open cabinet doors in front of exterior wall pipes to allow in heat.
• Maintain a minimum heat of 55°F (13°C), even when leaving town.
• Ensure windows and doors are closed and well-sealed when the temperature approaches freezing.
• Leave water dripping from faucets on exterior walls.
• Shut off the main water valve and drain the water lines (see below) if you’re headed out of town and are concerned pipes could freeze while you’re away.

How to handle frozen pipes

If you suspect you have a frozen pipe, follow these steps:

Locate the main water shutoff valve. In warmer climates, this is often outside the home, attached to an exterior wall near the front of the house. In colder climates, it’s often in the basement near the front of the house.

Shut it off. Older homes usually have a gate valve with a round handle that must be turned to close. Newer homes have a ball valve with a lever that needs to be turned 90 degrees so that it’s perpendicular to the pipes. If the valve gets stuck while trying to turn it off, replace it or have a licensed plumber do so. And teach other family members how to identify and shut off the value — you never know when you’ll need to shut off the main water valve.

Inspect pipes for leaks and freezes. If you find leaks, start cleaning up, but if there’s pipe damage, call a licensed plumber before turning the main water valve on again. As temperatures rise, watch for more signs of leaks. Never take a torch or heat gun to accelerate thawing, as these fire hazards can cause more problems than they solve.

Slowly turn water back on. As you turn on the main water valve, inspect again for leaks and pipe damage. Remember to look in hard-to-reach and little used areas of your home where you may have additional leaks and frozen piping.