During a hard freeze, you usually want to drip the faucets served by pipes that are coldest and most exposed: those on exterior walls and in unheated spaces, plus at least one faucet on each main branch (ideally the one farthest from the meter).

Key rule: Protect the coldest lines

Focus on faucets connected to pipes that are most likely to freeze.

  • Sinks on exterior walls (kitchen, bathrooms, laundry)
  • Faucets above or near unheated areas: crawl spaces, garages, uninsulated basements, or attics
  • Any fixture that has frozen before or has poor insulation (for example, a problem bathroom or laundry room)

If your home is small and on a slab, dripping each sink on an exterior wall may be enough; in larger homes, think in terms of branches: at least one faucet per vulnerable section of the house.

Which specific faucets to drip

Plumbers and home guides give a few practical priorities.

  • Farthest from the meter/main shutoff :
    • Drip the sink farthest from where the water line enters the house. This helps keep water moving through the longest run of pipe.
  • One per vulnerable branch :
    • If your home has a split layout (for example, kitchen one way, bedrooms the other), drip at least one faucet on each side that uses pipes in cold areas.
  • Both hot and cold (when possible):
    • Slightly open the tap so both hot and cold water move, especially on single‑handle faucets (set the handle in the middle).
  • Showers/tubs :
    • If their pipes are in exterior walls or above unheated spaces, crack them open to a very small stream or steady drip as well.

Outdoor hose bibs are usually turned off and insulated instead of dripped, unless a plumber or city specifically says otherwise.

How much to drip and when

Getting the rate and timing right matters as much as which faucets you choose.

  • Drip rate :
    • Aim for a steady drip or the thinnest continuous stream , often described as no wider than a pencil lead.
  • When to start :
    • Many pros suggest dripping when the forecast shows around 20°F (-6.6°C) or lower for several hours , especially overnight.
  • How long to keep dripping :
    • Keep faucets dripping until temperatures stay above freezing (32°F / 0°C) day and night , or until local guidance says the risk has passed.

If the power goes out during severe cold, keep dripping even more consistently, since your home will cool down faster.

Extra pipe‑protection tips

Dripping helps, but it works best with other simple steps.

  • Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warmer room air can reach the pipes.
  • Add pipe insulation or foam sleeves to exposed pipes in basements, crawl spaces, or garages.
  • Disconnect garden hoses and use insulated covers on outside spigots.
  • If you know a specific line freezes often (like a hot line in one bathroom), prioritize dripping that fixture even if others seem fine.

TL;DR : Drip the faucets on exterior walls and those fed by pipes in unheated areas, plus at least one faucet at the far end of each plumbing branch, at a thin steady drip or pencil‑thin stream whenever temps are around 20°F or below for hours.

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