How to Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing and Bursting
Subzero temperatures can cause even interior pipes to freeze
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When temperatures plummet, the risk of your pipes freezing and bursting skyrockets—a reality that may end up costing you a lot of time and money. In fact, burst pipes are one of the most common causes of property damage during frigid weather. The resulting mess can lead to thousands in water damage—easily $5,000 or more, according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS).
The pipes most at risk are those in unheated interior spaces such as basements, attics, and garages. But even pipes running through cabinets or exterior walls can freeze. The good news is there are some simple things you can do to keep your water running and your house dry. We highlight some ways to keep your pipes from freezing, as well as how to safely thaw frozen pipes.
How to Prevent Pipes From Freezing
Once the temperature starts dropping outside, you should take measures inside to keep your pipes warm and water running. Frozen pipes generally occur below 20° F. But freezing can happen above that threshold as well, especially if you have uninsulated pipes running through an uninsulated space.
Some of the steps experts recommend may go against your better instincts of conserving water and heat, but the extra expense is nothing compared with a hefty repair bill. Here’s what to do:
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes
If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you may well have a frozen pipe. “If you suspect the pipes are frozen, be careful when thawing them out because if the pipe has already burst, the water will come flowing out and flood your home,” says John Galeotafiore, who oversees space heater and air conditioner testing at Consumer Reports.
If a pipe has broken, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve, which is usually at the water meter or where the main line enters the house. If the water is still running and no pipes have burst, you can take the following steps. (Of course, if you suspect a more serious problem, call a plumber.)
Turn on the faucet. As you heat the frozen pipe and the ice plug begins to melt, you want the water to be able to flow through. Running water through the pipe, as cold as it is, will help melt ice in the pipe.
Apply heat to the section of pipe. You can do this with an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, or a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. As tempting as it may be, do not use a blowtorch, a kerosene or propane heater, a charcoal stove, or any device with an open flame; the high heat can damage the pipes or even start a fire.
Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. Check all other faucets in your home to see whether you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.
Call a licensed plumber if you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe.
Space Heaters to Warm a Room
If you need supplemental heat, you can add a space heater to a room where pipes might be at risk. And though we don’t recommend using a space heater in a bathroom, if you really need one, make sure it’s plugged into an outlet with a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)—typically identifiable with “test” and “reset” buttons—and do not use an extension cord.
Here are some space heaters that performed well in our tests for room heating, including three small and three large heaters.
