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How to Prevent Frozen Pipes: A Checklist for Before and During Cold Weather

Updated October 31, 2026 · General information, not plumbing or legal advice

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The short answer: Before the cold: drain and disconnect outdoor hoses, insulate exposed pipes, and seal leaks that let cold air reach them. During the cold: keep the heat on day and night (no lower than 55°F if you are away), open cabinet doors under sinks, keep garage doors closed, and let faucets served by exposed pipes drip.

Safety first. Never thaw a pipe with a torch or any open flame. They are a fire hazard and can release deadly carbon monoxide. Keep electrical cords away from water, and stay out of rooms where water is near outlets, panels or appliances.

Before the cold arrives

Remove and drain outdoor hoses. Store them. Close the inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs, then open the outside hose bibs to drain. The Red Cross says to keep the outside valve open so any water left in the pipe can expand without breaking it.
Cover outdoor faucets. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says to use insulated covers. Missouri Extension suggests an insulating foam dome.
Drain pool and sprinkler supply lines following the maker's or installer's directions. The Red Cross says not to put antifreeze in these lines unless directed, because it is environmentally harmful and dangerous to people, pets, wildlife and landscaping.
Find the unheated spots. Look in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension).
Insulate. The Red Cross says to add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces, and to insulate both hot and cold water pipes in unheated areas. See heat tape and pipe insulation.
Seal leaks. Illinois Extension says to seal any leaks that let cold air in where pipes are located.
Close foundation vents when temperatures stay below freezing for a long time, and reopen them when it warms (NC State Extension).
Learn your main water shut-off valve (Illinois Extension, FEMA, NC State Extension).

When it is very cold

Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. The Red Cross says a higher heating bill beats a much more costly repair.
Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warmer air reaches the pipes.
Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage. Missouri Extension also suggests adding weather seal around the opening.
Let a faucet drip on pipes along exterior walls or other exposed pipes.
In extreme cold, Missouri Extension suggests aiming an electric heater at exposed pipes. Keep it away from anything flammable.

If you travel

Leave the heat on, set no lower than 55°F, and open cabinet doors where there is plumbing (Red Cross, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension).
Have someone check the house daily to be sure the heat is on, or drain and shut off the water system (Illinois Extension).
If you have a heat pump and the forecast is extremely low, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says you may need to switch to emergency heat and reduce the thermostat to 55°F.

Extra safety nets

FEMA says water-leak sensors, emergency pressure release valves and automatic water shutoffs can help save your house from massive damage due to a burst pipe. Illinois Extension notes that even a crack as small as an eighth of an inch can release up to 250 gallons of water a day.

Will your pipes freeze tonight?

Answer four quick questions about tonight's low, where your pipes run, insulation and heat setting. Get a risk level and a short to-do list.

Open the freeze risk checker

Protect the pipes before the next cold snap

Pipe sleeves and UL-listed heat cable are the products Red Cross and extension services point to for exposed pipes. Read the label and follow the maker's instructions.

How to choose and use them See pipe insulation and faucet covers See UL-listed heat cable

Related guides

Common questions

What temperature should I keep my house to prevent frozen pipes?

The Red Cross says to keep the thermostat at the same setting day and night, and to set it no lower than 55°F if you go away in cold weather. FEMA says to keep the furnace at 55°F or higher so the home stays above freezing.

Should I let my faucets drip?

When the weather is very cold, the Red Cross says to let cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes, because running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent freezing. NC State Extension says to run the faucet just enough for a constant drip on pipes along exterior walls.

What if I go away in winter?

The Red Cross says to leave the heat on, set no lower than 55°F. Illinois Extension says either have someone check the house daily to confirm the heat is on, or drain and shut off the water system.

Can hot water pipes freeze?

Yes. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says a hot water supply line can freeze just as a cold one can if water is not running through it and the water in the pipe is cold.

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