You should leave your water dripping only during hard freezes, and stop once temperatures stay safely above freezing for a while.

Key temperature guidelines

  • Many plumbers and utilities suggest dripping faucets when the forecast shows about 28°F (−2°C) or lower for 4 hours or more, especially if you have exposed or poorly insulated pipes.
  • Inside a well‑insulated, heated home, you often do not need to drip until it is well below 32°F outside, but risk goes up if pipes run through crawlspaces, attics, exterior walls, or unheated garages.

When to start dripping

Consider letting faucets drip when:

  • The forecast shows temperatures below about 28°F (−2°C) for several hours overnight or for multiple days.
  • You know you have vulnerable plumbing: crawlspace pipes, mobile/manufactured home plumbing, pipes on exterior walls, or history of frozen pipes.
  • You are leaving home during a cold snap and cannot monitor or adjust heat; some experts recommend a drip plus keeping heat on to reduce freeze risk.

When it’s usually safe to stop

You can typically stop leaving water dripping when:

  • Daytime and nighttime temperatures are consistently above 32°F (0°C), not just for a couple of hours in the afternoon.
  • The cold snap is over and your local forecast no longer shows subfreezing lows in the next couple of nights.
  • Your home’s heat is on and stable, and there are no unusually cold areas where pipes run (check crawlspaces and exterior walls).

How to drip correctly

  • Turn taps on “just enough to drip”: about 1–2 drips per second, not a full stream, to limit water waste while still relieving pressure if ice forms.
  • Prioritize at least one faucet on each side or level of the house, and favor lines that are furthest from the main or in colder spots.
  • For single‑handle faucets, set the handle so both hot and cold lines see some flow; for two‑handle faucets, a slight drip on both can help protect both lines.

Extra pipe‑protection tips

  • Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm room air can reach the pipes.
  • Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves or heat cable ahead of cold weather; this reduces how often you need to rely on dripping at all.
  • For outdoor spigots, it is usually better to shut off and drain those lines or use insulated covers, rather than leaving them dripping.

If you share your typical winter low temperatures, type of home (house/apartment/manufactured home), and where your pipes run, more tailored guidance can be given on exactly when you should leave your water dripping.