How to prevent frozen pipes: a late-fall checklist (and how to thaw one safely)

Published October 27, 2026 · Updated October 31, 2026

A late-fall checklist to protect outdoor faucets and exposed pipes before the first hard freeze, plus safe steps to thaw a frozen pipe.

A burst pipe is one of the most expensive surprises a home can deliver, and most of the prevention takes an afternoon in late fall. Water expands as it freezes, pressure builds between the ice and a closed faucet, and the pipe splits, often somewhere you can’t see until it thaws. Here is what to do before cold weather arrives, what to do on the coldest nights, and how to respond if a pipe freezes anyway.

Why it is worth an afternoon

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) estimates that about a quarter-million homes and offices have at least one room damaged by a frozen pipe each year. FLASH’s three-step shortcut is foam, dome and drip: insulate exposed pipes with foam, cover outdoor faucets with an insulating dome, and let faucets drip slowly in a hard freeze so pressure can’t build up in the pipe.

Which pipes are most at risk

Outdoor faucets (hose bibs), hoses left connected, and irrigation lines.
Pipes in unheated spaces: crawl spaces, attics, garages and unfinished basements.
Pipes that run along exterior walls, especially under kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls.
Pipes near gaps where cold air gets in, such as around dryer vents, sill plates or where cables enter the house.
Homes in warmer climates during a rare hard freeze, where pipes are often in attics or exterior walls with little insulation.

Before the first hard freeze

Disconnect, drain and store garden hoses. A connected hose traps water even in a “frost-free” faucet.
Shut off the indoor valve that feeds each outdoor faucet (if you have one), then open the outdoor faucet to drain it. Leave it open for the winter.
Have the irrigation system blown out and winterized where winters freeze.
Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, attics and garages with foam pipe sleeves. For pipes that still freeze, a professional can add UL-listed heat cable.
Seal gaps and cracks near pipes with caulk or spray foam, and close crawl space vents if your home is designed for it.
Find your main water shutoff valve, make sure it turns, and show everyone in the home where it is.
Get the furnace or heat pump serviced so heat doesn’t fail on the coldest night.

On the coldest nights

Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night instead of setting it back.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes. Move cleaning products out of reach of kids and pets.
Let a slow drip of cold water run from faucets served by exposed pipes. Moving water is less likely to freeze and the open faucet relieves pressure.
Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage.
If you leave home, keep the heat on, set no lower than 55°F, and ask someone to check the house. For a long trip, consider shutting off the main valve and draining the lines.

If a pipe freezes

The sign is usually a faucet that gives only a trickle, or nothing, on a very cold morning. Act before the ice splits the pipe.

Open the affected faucet so water can flow as the ice melts.
Warm the frozen section gently: a hair dryer, a heating pad or warm towels. A space heater can help if it is kept well away from anything that can burn and never left unattended.
Never use a torch, kerosene heater or any open flame.
Keep warming until full water pressure returns, then check the other faucets. If one pipe froze, others may have too.
If you can’t find the frozen spot, can’t reach it, or see water leaking, shut off the main water valve and call a licensed plumber.

If a pipe bursts

Shut off the main water valve right away.
If water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel, stay out of the water and shut off power at the panel only if you can reach it safely.
Photograph the damage before cleanup and call your insurer.
Remove standing water and dry the area within a day or two to limit mold.
Get a written quote for the repair, ideally from more than one plumber.

Put it on your calendar

Outdoor faucets, hoses and irrigation are usually the first things to freeze, and they are on most yearly checklists for a reason. A free Estodia account adds “winterize outdoor spigots and irrigation” and the furnace tune-up to each home’s plan, times the reminders for your climate, and lets you request quotes without sharing your phone number or email with pros.

Quick answers

At what temperature do pipes freeze?

Pipes in unheated or exposed spots can freeze whenever the air around them stays below 32°F long enough. The risk rises a lot during deep cold snaps, especially with wind, and in homes where pipes run through crawl spaces, attics or exterior walls.

Should I drip my faucets in freezing weather?

For faucets served by pipes in exterior walls or unheated spaces, a slow drip of cold water helps prevent freezing and relieves pressure if ice forms.

Do frost-free outdoor faucets need winterizing?

Yes. Disconnect the hose every fall. A connected hose traps water in the faucet, which can freeze and crack the pipe inside the wall.

What temperature should I leave my house at in winter when I’m away?

Keep the heat on and set no lower than 55°F, and have someone check on the house during a long cold snap.

How do you thaw a frozen pipe?

Open the faucet so water can flow as the ice melts, then warm the pipe with an electric heating pad, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater kept away from anything flammable, or towels soaked in hot water. Keep going until full pressure returns, then check the other faucets. If you can’t find or reach the frozen spot, call a licensed plumber.

What should I never use to thaw a frozen pipe?

Never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or any other open-flame device. The Red Cross and the National Weather Service both say to use gentle, non-flame heat only.

Should I let my faucets drip all night in freezing weather?

The Red Cross says to let cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes when the weather is very cold, since running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent freezing. It also says to keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. FLASH adds that dripping releases pressure, which lowers the chance of a rupture even if the pipe does freeze.

What are the first signs of a frozen pipe?

The Red Cross says that if you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places include pipes against exterior walls, or where the water service enters the home through the foundation, as well as unheated basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages and kitchen cabinets.

Get a free maintenance plan for your home. Reminders before tasks are due, and quotes when you want help.

Create free account