Difficulty
Beginner
Duration
Over 1 day
As winter rolls in, it's vital that you know how to prevent pipes from freezing. Water can freeze in your pipes, whether due to quick drops in outside temperatures, poor insulation, or if the thermostat set too low. Water’s volume expands and puts pressure on the pipe from inside. Even a small crack or two can cause a burst pipe or other devastating and costly damage.
Use this guide for ideas on how to keep pipes from freezing. Learn what to do whether you have fully frozen pipes or a small amount of ice in your water lines. Plus, get tips on how to thaw frozen pipes.
Prevent Frozen Pipes
There are number of steps you can can take when learning how to keep pipes from freezing.
- Insulate pipes located in the attic and crawl space using pipe insulation, even if the climate where you live does not often have hard freeze conditions. You can also wrap pipes in heat tape or heat cables with a thermostat control. The best pipe insulation for your situation will depend on your home. Always install according to the manufacturer's directions.
- Seal or caulk any cracks that might let in cold air, especially places where pipes run from inside to outside the home, such as dryer vents or water pipes.
- Preventing frozen pipes should be done outdoors as well. As you winterize your home, disconnect your garden hoses.
- For any outdoor faucets with cut-off valves, be sure they are closed and faucets are drained. You can also protect them by using faucet covers throughout the winter months.
- Keep water moving through your water system. If cold weather settles in and you notice temperatures beginning to drop, start a small drip in your faucets. Keep this drip going in the kitchen, bath, laundry areas and any other faucets in the home.
- Be sure to alert a friend or trusted neighbor if you'll be away more than a few days. Ask them to check periodically to make sure that the measures you have taken in preventing frozen pipes worked and that nothing has ruptured.
What to Do If Pipes Freeze
- Turn on the faucet. If there is only a drip or trickle of water, you may have a frozen pipe.
- Check along the water supply lines, taking note of very cold spots. Inspect carefully to see if you notice any line breaks.
- If you find any broken pipes, turn off the main water supply to the house. Then, immediately call a professional plumber for assistance.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes
Sometimes before you can figure out how to prevent pipes from freezing, your plumbing ices up. Thawing frozen pipes needs to be done quickly and safely. Here are a few ideas for thawing exposed and enclosed pipes. For both types of pipes, turn on the faucet for the affected pipe. The flowing water will help the ice melt even faster.
For exposed pipes, surround the pipe with a heat source to melt the ice inside. This can be done in several ways:
- Wrap the pipe in a heating pad and turn the temperature dial up to high.
- Aim a hair dryer on high at the pipe. Keep the air moving back and forth and around the pipe in 12-inch to 16-inch sections at a time.
- Encircle the pipe in heated, dampened towels. Change these wraps frequently as they lose heat to the pipe.
- Position a space heater to circulate warm air around a section of the pipe. Move the heat source to different sections as needed and continue until the pipes are thawed and the water pressure returns to normal.
For enclosed pipes, either in a wall or an area that is hard to reach, try these tips:
- Turn up the heat in your home. The higher temperatures could help thaw out any pipes located inside walls.
- If needed, cut out a section of the wall to access the pipe. Then use any of the above methods for exposed pipes.
Tip: Never use extreme heat or open flames, such as a heat gun or blow torch, to thaw a pipe. This presents a fire hazard and can also cause serious damage to the pipe.
Once you know how to keep pipes from freezing, you can save yourself a lot of aggravation and cost. One of the simplest methods is to wrap exposed pipes in good insulation. Another great idea of how to prevent pipes from freezing is using a slow faucet drip when the temperatures drop. Looking for a plumbing tool or new pipes? Use The Home Depot Mobile App to locate products and check inventory. We'll take you to the exact aisle and bay.
