For most homes, you only need a slow, steady drip —not a full stream—to help prevent pipes from freezing.

Quick Scoop

  • Aim for:
    • About one drop every few seconds (roughly 5–10 drops per minute).
* Many plumbers describe it as **“drippy, just before it becomes a stream”** —a very thin trickle, not a solid flow.
  • When it’s extremely cold (near 0°F or well below), bump it up to a very thin, continuous stream for extra safety, especially on exterior-wall or uninsulated pipes.
  • Keep the drip going as long as temps stay at or below freezing and especially when they’re expected to be below about 20°F for several hours.

How much should a faucet drip to prevent freezing?

Think of the goal as keeping water moving just enough that it doesn’t sit still and freeze in cold spots of the pipe. A good practical target:

  • Normal hard freeze (teens–20s°F):
    • One drip every few seconds, or a faint, broken trickle.
  • Severe cold (single digits or below 0°F, windy, poor insulation):
    • Increase to a thin, unbroken stream —still small, but clearly more than single droplets.

This level of flow:

  • Keeps water moving so it’s harder to freeze.
  • Relieves pressure if a bit of ice does form, lowering the risk of a burst.

Extra tips that matter as much as the drip

  • Prioritize farthest faucets from the meter and those on exterior walls or in unheated areas (garages, crawlspaces, basements).
  • If your hot and cold lines are both exposed or the water heater may get cold, drip both hot and cold slightly.
  • Keep your home at 55°F or higher indoors during a freeze if possible.
  • Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm room air can reach the pipes. (Common recommendation in forum and homeowner discussions.)

A quick story-style example

Imagine a cold snap where the forecast says 12°F overnight for eight hours and your kitchen sink sits on an exterior wall. You nudge the handle until the water is just barely running —you see distinct drops turning into a skinny, almost threadlike stream. You leave the cabinet open under the sink, keep the thermostat at 60°F, and let that tiny trickle run until the temperature is safely above freezing the next day.

That tiny bit of water costs much less than repairing a burst pipe and the water damage that comes with it.

Mini FAQ

Is one drip every 20–30 seconds enough?
Usually not. Many guides and forum users suggest every few seconds , not once in a while, so the water keeps moving through colder sections of pipe.

Do all faucets need to drip?
Not always. Focus on vulnerable runs : farthest from the meter, on exterior walls, or in unheated spaces.

How long should I let it drip?
Run the drip until temps are consistently above freezing (and above ~20°F if you want a broader safety margin).

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