Seasonal preparation

While water begins to freeze at 32°F, most indoor pipes remain safe unless exposed to direct cold air. However, when temperatures fall to 20°F or below, unheated areas like garages, crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls become vulnerable. Each winter, take time to protect your home—simple steps now can help prevent costly damage later.

Disconnect Garden Hoses: Disconnect and drain outdoor garden hoses. If left connected, water can freeze within the hose and potentially damage the connected faucets and pipes.

Protect Outdoor Faucets: Shut off and drain outdoor faucets before freezing temperatures arrive. If you can’t shut them off, use a faucet cover for extra protection.

Seal Drafts: Identify and seal any drafts around windows, doors, and other openings. This not only helps in conserving heat but also prevents cold air from infiltrating your living spaces.

Emergency Shut-Off: Know where your main water shut-off valve is in case of emergencies. If a pipe does burst, being able to quickly turn off the water can minimize damage.

During extremely cold weather

Pipes can start freezing when temperatures drop below 20°F, with the greatest risk occurring in single-digit temperatures or lower.  Single-digit temperatures pose the highest risk, especially in homes with poor insulation.

Drip Faucets: Allow faucets to drip slowly during extremely cold temperatures. This continuous flow of water can prevent pipes from freezing by relieving pressure within the plumbing system.

Open Cabinet Doors: Keep cabinet doors under sinks open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes. This is particularly important for pipes located along exterior walls.

Maintain Consistent Heating: Do not turn off your furnace while you are away or asleep. The pipes inside the walls of your home rely on the warmth to avoid freezing.

Insulate Pipes: Wrap exposed pipes in unheated areas such as basements, crawl spaces, and garages with pipe insulation or heating tape to help prevent freezing.

Close Crawl Space Vents: If your home has a crawl space, block vents with insulation or foam board to prevent cold air from reaching exposed pipes.

Keep Your Garage Door Closed: This is especially important if you have exposed water supply lines in your garage. Limit the amount of cold air entering by keeping the garage door closed as much as possible.