You generally only need to drip one faucet, not all of them, as long as you choose the right one and your situation isn’t extreme.

Basic rule of thumb

  • Drip the faucet farthest from where water enters your home so water moves through the longest stretch of pipe.
  • If you don’t know where the main line comes in or how your plumbing runs, it’s safest to drip a few faucets in different parts of the house (for example: one kitchen sink, one bathroom sink, and one tub/shower).
  • In very severe or prolonged cold , some plumbers recommend dripping most or all faucets , especially ones on exterior walls or over unheated spaces (garages, crawlspaces, basements).

When you should drip

  • Start dripping when:
    • Forecast lows are around 20°F (-6°C) or below for several hours, especially overnight.
    • You have pipes in uninsulated or poorly heated areas (attic, crawlspace, exterior walls, garage).
  • Keep them dripping until temperatures are safely above freezing again.

How much to drip

  • Aim for:
    • A slow but steady drip : about a drop every second or every few seconds.
    • Some local utilities and plumbers suggest up to a thin pencil‑lead stream in very cold conditions.
  • Open both hot and cold slightly on a mixer faucet so both lines keep moving.

Extra quick tips

  • Prioritize:
    • Faucets on exterior walls.
    • Faucets above unheated spaces (over a garage, crawlspace, etc.).
  • Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to let warm room air reach the pipes.
  • If you’re extremely worried and can afford some extra water use, dripping more than one faucet is safer than under‑doing it.

If you tell a bit about your home (house/apartment, number of stories, where pipes run, how cold it’s getting), a more specific “drip X faucets in these locations” plan can be laid out.