You generally want to start dripping faucets when the outside temperature is around 20°F (-6°C) or lower, especially if that cold will last several hours or overnight.

What temp do you need to drip faucets?

Key guideline (the short answer)

Most plumbers and home guides suggest:

  • Start dripping indoor faucets when:
    • Forecast lows are around 20°F (-6°C) or colder for several hours.
* You have a **hard freeze warning** or “feels like” temps are in the teens.
  • Consider dripping a bit earlier (around 32°F / 0°C) if:
    • Your home has poor insulation ,
    • You have exposed pipes , crawl spaces, or pipes in unheated garages, attics, or exterior walls.

Think of 20°F as the common “rule-of-thumb” for many modern, reasonably insulated homes, and 32°F as a cautious buffer if your setup is more vulnerable.

How much to drip?

You don’t need a full stream; just movement.

  • Aim for a small, steady trickle :
    • About one drip every few seconds or a thin thread of water is enough in most cases.
  • Keep it dripping:
    • As long as temps are at or below 20°F or your power/heat is out.
* Turn it off once temps are safely **above freezing** and rising.

A tiny, annoying drip is cheap; a burst pipe is wildly expensive.

Which faucets to drip?

You don’t have to turn on everything, but be strategic.

  • Priorities:
    • Faucets on exterior walls.
    • Lines running through unheated spaces (garage, crawl space, attic).
* The **faucet farthest from your water meter** , so water moves through the longest run of pipe.
  • If you can:
    • Let both hot and cold drip at vulnerable sinks, since both lines can freeze.

Extra tips to avoid frozen pipes

These small moves work together with dripping:

  • Open cabinet doors under kitchen/bathroom sinks to let warm air reach the pipes.
  • Keep your heat on at 55°F or higher , even if you’re away.
  • Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves, towels, or similar wraps.
  • Disconnect garden hoses and shut off/drain outdoor spigots before hard freezes.

“Latest news” & forum vibes

Every winter, as new cold snaps hit the U.S. and Canada, local news, Reddit threads, and city subs fill up with the same question: “What temperature do you all start dripping your faucets at?”

You’ll see a pattern:

  • Many people in older houses or cold cities say they start around 25–28°F because their walls and crawl spaces get cold faster.
  • People in newer, well-insulated homes often wait until 20°F or lower , matching what plumbing pros publish in 2024–2025 guides.

So the “forum consensus” lines up pretty well with pro advice: 20°F is the common benchmark, but your house’s quirks might nudge you warmer.

SEO-style recap for “what temp do you need to drip faucets”

  • Main keyword: what temp do you need to drip faucets
  • Best-practice answer:
    • Start at ~20°F (-6°C) for typical, insulated homes.
* Start closer to **32°F (0°C)** if you have **exposed/poorly insulated pipes**.

* Use a **slow, steady trickle** , not a stream.

Meta-style summary:
If you’re wondering “what temp do you need to drip faucets” during a freeze, aim to let them drip once the forecast shows around 20°F or lower for several hours, earlier if your pipes are exposed or your home is drafty, and keep only a slight trickle running until temperatures climb back above freezing.

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