To prevent pipes from freezing in cold weather, keep them warm, keep water moving, and block cold air from reaching them. Taking a few precautions before and during a cold snap can save you from burst pipes, water damage, and expensive repairs.

What temperature do pipes freeze?

  • Pipes are at risk once air temperatures are at or below 0 °C / 32 °F for several hours in a row, especially in unheated or poorly insulated areas.
  • Pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and unheated basements are most vulnerable.

Everyday prevention steps

These are the core habits to reduce the risk of frozen or burst pipes:

  • Keep your thermostat set to at least about 55–60 °F (13–16 °C) even when you are away or sleeping, so the building never drops below freezing.
  • Open cabinet doors under sinks (especially on exterior walls) so warm room air can circulate around the pipes.
  • Let faucets farthest from the main shutoff drip slightly during extreme cold; moving water is less likely to freeze and also relieves pressure if ice forms.
  • Know where your main water shutoff valve is, so you can quickly turn off water if a pipe bursts.

Insulation and hardware fixes

Strengthen your system before a cold snap hits:

  • Insulate exposed or vulnerable pipes with foam sleeves, rubber or mineral wool insulation, or even wrapped towels in a pinch, especially in basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and along exterior walls.
  • Seal drafts near pipes—around vents, wiring holes, sill plates, and foundation gaps—so icy air cannot blow directly on plumbing.
  • Keep garage doors closed if any water lines run through or over the garage, since the concrete and outdoor air can make the space much colder.
  • For very cold climates, consider installing heat tape or heat cable with a thermostat on exposed pipes; these products warm the pipe to stay above freezing when used according to the manufacturer’s directions.

What to do during extreme cold or outages

If conditions are worse than usual (or you lose heat):

  • Prioritize the most at‑risk pipes: those in exterior walls, unheated spaces, mobile or tiny homes, crawl spaces, and under sinks on outside walls.
  • Close off unneeded rooms and focus your available heat in areas where plumbing runs.
  • Add temporary insulation: wrap pipes with spare towels, blankets, foam, or even insulated grocery bags to slow heat loss.
  • If you must leave a building unheated in freezing weather, shut off the main water supply and drain the lines if possible to avoid damage.

If a pipe does freeze (but hasn’t burst)

If a pipe is frozen, you want to thaw it carefully and safely:

  • Turn on the faucet (hot and cold if it is a mixer); water flowing out helps melt the ice and relieves pressure inside the pipe.
  • Gently apply heat to the frozen section with:
    • An electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, or
    • A hair dryer, or
    • A portable space heater, kept away from flammable materials.
  • Never use open flames or devices that can overheat the pipe (blowtorches, propane or kerosene heaters, charcoal stoves), because they can start a fire or overheat and rupture the pipe.

If you see bulging pipes, water spraying, or hear water running behind walls, shut off the main water immediately and contact a plumber or emergency service.

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