You generally want a very slow but steady drip—just enough to keep water moving, not a thin stream.

Quick Scoop: How fast should I drip my faucet?

For typical “protect the pipes from freezing” situations:

  • Aim for a slow drip : about 1 drop every few seconds is enough in most homes.
  • Many plumbers and specialists suggest around 1 drip per second as a practical rule of thumb, especially in harder freezes.
  • Some city and apartment guidance says a slow drip of about 5–10 drops per minute can be sufficient where plumbing is newer and well‑insulated.
  • You do not need a solid stream; think “drippy, just before it becomes a stream,” not a continuous flow.

A useful mental picture:

If that drip would roughly fill a 1‑gallon container in about an hour, you’re in the right zone—this is usually just a trickle and only costs a few cents per night per faucet.

When should I drip it?

  • Start dripping when temps are expected to drop below about 20°F (around −6°C) for several hours, especially overnight, or if you’ve had frozen pipes before.
  • Keep dripping as long as temperatures stay at or below freezing , or if the power goes out and your home loses heat.
  • You can turn the drip off once temperatures are consistently above freezing again.

Extra quick tips

  • Prioritize the faucet farthest from your water meter or on outside walls , because those pipes are usually most vulnerable.
  • A cold‑water tap is typically used for dripping.
  • The cost of that small drip (roughly a gallon an hour) is usually tiny compared to the risk and expense of a burst pipe.

TL;DR: Turn the handle just enough so water forms distinct drops , roughly every second or every few seconds, not a continuous stream. This keeps water moving through the pipes while minimizing waste.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.