A Guide to Preventing Frozen Pipes

Article overview

• Frozen pipes can burst due to water pressure building up between an ice blockage and a closed faucet. You can prevent this by letting faucets trickle, keeping cabinets open for air circulation, maintaining a consistent thermostat temperature and insulating exposed pipes.
• Signs of a frozen pipe include strange smells from a drain, low water flow or frost on the pipe's exterior. If a pipe is frozen, you can try to thaw it using a heating pad or hairdryer, but call a licensed plumber for safety.
• There are many things you can do to help prevent your pipes from freezing, like inspecting pipes before winter, having water trickle from a faucet, leaving the heat on if you’re away from home during cold weather and more.
• Set up electrical outage alerts for times you’re away from home when temperatures may drop below freezing.

Freshly fallen snow, mugs of steaming hot cocoa, cozy fires—winter has its advantages. But when the temperature plummets, there’s also the risk of your home’s pipes freezing and bursting. And that’s one of the most common causes of property damage during frigid weather, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).

As a homeowner, what should you do? Follow this guide on how to prevent frozen pipes and what to do if they freeze.

Why do pipes burst?

The ice itself isn’t what causes a pipe to burst. Instead, the ice blockage causes water pressure to build between the blockage and a closed faucet. That pressure increase causes the pipe to burst, often at a place where little or no ice has formed.

Where you live makes a difference too. Homes in northern climates are typically built with pipes located inside the building insulation to protect them from freezing weather. In southern climates, pipes are more vulnerable to the cold, as they tend to be located in uninsulated areas, and homeowners may not be as aware of how to avoid frozen pipes.

How to prevent frozen pipes

The cost to repair frozen pipes ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars, so it’s in your best interest to prevent them from freezing in the first place. Take these precautions to help prevent your pipes from freezing:

• Regularly inspect pipes for vulnerabilities before winter.
• Schedule professional inspections—especially if you have an older home.
• Use smart home devices (e.g., temperature sensors or water flow monitors) to detect issues early.
• If it’s extremely cold outside, help prevent frozen pipes by letting water trickle from the faucet. This will help provide relief from the excessive pressure that builds between the faucet and any ice blockage. Keep in mind that it needs to be more than a slow drip to relieve the pressure.
• Keep kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open to allow warmer air to circulate around your plumbing.
• Set your thermostat to the same temperature day and night, so you can keep warm air flowing. You may incur a higher heat bill, but you’ll help prevent frozen pipes.
• If you’re away from home during the cold weather, leave your heat on, keeping the thermostat set above 55° and set up electrical outage alerts.
• Use an insulated sleeve to cover any exposed exterior water pipes (sprinkler, pool supply lines, etc.) or interior water pipes (basement, crawl spaces, etc.).
• To protect pipes outdoors, disconnect hoses, cover outdoor faucets with insulated foam and drain the lines.

How to tell if your pipes are frozen

There are several clues that indicate your pipes might be in trouble:

• You notice odd smells from a faucet or drain, which could mean it’s partially or completely blocked.
• Little to no water is coming out of a faucet.
• You can see frost or condensation on the exterior of the pipes.
• You touch the pipe and notice a spot that feels colder than the rest.

Safely take action if pipes are frozen

If you find a frozen pipe, don’t take chances—call a licensed plumber. You can also try to safely warm it up to melt the ice. Don’t use a blowtorch or other open flame. Instead, place a towel soaked in hot water or an electric heating pad around the pipe. You can also apply heat using an electric hair dryer. Turn on a faucet so you can tell when the water starts running again. If a water pipe bursts, turn off the water at your home’s main shutoff valve.

How much does it cost to repair damaged frozen pipes?

Depending on the type of pipe and its location in your home, frozen pipe repairs can range from $100 to $2,000 or more—and that’s only for the plumber. If access to the pipe requires cutting drywall, removing cabinets or digging to access underground pipes, the cost can rise significantly. Here’s a price range for the most common frozen pipe repairs:

• In-wall pipes: $150 to $500
• Kitchen pipes: $200 to $600
• Basement pipes: $100 to $400 
• Underground or exterior pipes: $500 to $2,000 or more

Should I file a home insurance claim for water damage?

Water damage is a leading cause of home insurance claims. Home insurance policies typically cover water damage to your home caused by a frozen pipe suddenly bursting. However, if you’re negligent, such as turning off the heat when you’re away from home, insurance may not cover your claim.

Tips for renters

If you’re a renter, check your lease to determine if there are any applicable agreements with the landlord related to living in colder weather conditions. For example, the landlord might outline that you’re required to keep the thermostat above 60° during the winter to help prevent water damage. In many cases, renter’s insurance could help cover any damage to your personal property caused by a burst pipe.