You generally want a slow but steady trickle , not just an occasional drop, to help prevent pipes from freezing.

Quick Scoop

For most homes in freezing weather, aim for:

  • A slow, continuous trickle rather than a single drip now and then.
  • Rough guide:
    • Not enough: one drop every few seconds (too slow).
* Too much: a solid, thick stream (wastes water).

* **Sweet spot:** drops falling quickly, almost forming a thin stream, roughly 1 drip per second to a thin “pencil‑lead” stream.

A practical way to set it:

  1. Turn the faucet on until you get a small stream.
  2. Slowly close it until that stream breaks into fast, individual drops that nearly merge together.
  3. Leave it there as long as the outdoor temperature is at or below about 20°F (or for prolonged subfreezing cold / power outages).

If you have separate hot and cold handles, crack both slightly so water moves in both lines; with a single handle, leave it in the middle.

Rule of thumb: if you have to stare to see if it’s moving, open it a bit more; if it looks like you’re filling a cup, close it a bit.