How to protect outdoor plumbing from freezing

Q: How cold does it have to be for outside pipes to freeze?

As a general rule of thumb, in order for your homes water pipes to freeze, the outside temperature needs to be below 20 degrees, for a total of at least six consecutive hours.

Why Pipe Freezing is a Problem

Water has a unique property in that it expands as it freezes. This expansion puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, including metal or plastic pipes. No matter the strength of a container, expanding water can cause pipes to break.

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How cold does it have to be for outside pipes to freeze?
How do you cover exposed pipes from freezing outside?
At what temperature should you wrap outside pipes?
How do you cover outdoor pipes for winter?

Pipes that freeze most frequently are:

Pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines.

Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets.

Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation.

How to Protect Pipes From Freezing

Before the onset of cold weather, protect your pipes from freezing by following these recommendations:

Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following manufacturer's or installer's directions. Do not put antifreeze in these lines unless directed. Antifreeze is environmentally harmful, and is dangerous to humans, pets, wildlife, and landscaping.

Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.

Add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in these areas.

Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas. Look in the garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes in these areas should be insulated.

Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a "pipe sleeve" or installing UL-listed "heat tape," "heat cable," or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Newspaper can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes – even ¼” of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing.

Consider relocating exposed pipes to provide increased protection from freezing.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.

Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.

When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.

Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.

If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

How to Thaw Frozen Pipes

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.

Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.

Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.

Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.

Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

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You look at the forecast and see sub-zero temperatures are coming your way. What does that mean for your pipes? Frozen pipes are no homeowner’s idea of a good time. Avoid a worst-case scenario by learning how to protect outdoor faucets from freezing and causing serious problems for your home’s plumbing.

You can freeze-proof your outdoor faucets and protect pipes from freezing or bursting. Keep reading for simple steps you can take to ensure your outdoor plumbing is safe, even on the coldest days of the winter.

Why You Should Care about Winterizing Your Outdoor Faucets

While most of the pipes in a home are insulated from the cold and get heat from your HVAC system, pipes connected to any outdoor faucets are vulnerable to freezing conditions. Any time the outside temperature dips below freezing, there’s a chance the water inside the pipes will freeze, expand, and potentially lead to burst pipes and water damage in your home.

The good news is you can avoid a call for emergency plumbing due to frozen pipes by simply learning to freeze-proof outdoor faucets.

6 Steps for How to Protect Outdoor Faucets from Freezing

Remove the garden hose from the faucet in the fall.
By taking this proactive step before freezing weather arrives, you’ll be ahead of the game and can avoid having to run outside to stow the hose in the middle of an ice storm.
Shut off the upstream water supply valve feeding the outdoor faucet.
Typically, you will find this valve several feet from the outside wall. Turn the handle to the valve in a clockwise motion until it stops. If it has a lever handle, turn the lever until it is perpendicular to the pipe.
Drain any residual water from the faucet and pipe.
This will ensure there isn’t any water left behind after shutting off the valve that could freeze and expand. If water continues to trickle out, even after you’ve shut off the upstream valve, replace the leaky valve.
Install an outdoor faucet protector.
A foam faucet cover offers an additional layer of protection to freeze-proof your faucet and pipes. You can find an inexpensive cover from hardware stores or online. Make sure the cover is securely in place over the faucet.
Insulate the pipe leading up to the faucet.
Purchase foam insulation to cover any exposed plumbing connected to the outdoor faucet.
Install a freeze-proof faucet.
If you’d rather not go through the hassle of properly winterizing your outdoor faucet and pipes each year, you can install a freeze-proof or frost-free faucet. Designed to function in freezing temperatures, a frost-free faucet will enable you to continue using the faucet year-round.

Turn to Mr. Rooter® Plumbing for More Winterizing Solutions for Your Residential Plumbing

Whether you need professional assistance installing a freeze-proof outdoor faucet, or you require emergency plumbing services due to frozen or burst pipes, the local experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing are here to help. We offer friendly, professional plumbing services to keep your home’s plumbing in optimal working condition—no matter what the winter weather throws your way.

Call (855) 591-0128 today to connect with your local Mr. Rooter Plumbing location, or schedule an appointment online.

Need help with snow removal this winter? Contact The Grounds Guys for reliable snow plowing service. As part of the Neighbourly family of home service providers, you can trust The Grounds Guys to surpass your snow and ice management expectations.

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How cold does it have to be for outside pipes to freeze?

As a general rule of thumb, in order for your home's water pipes to freeze, the outside temperature needs to be below 20 degrees, for a total of at least six consecutive hours.

How do you cover exposed pipes from freezing outside?

Simply take some old rags or towels, and wrap them around any exposed pipes, spigots or other areas that you think is susceptible to freezing. Make sure it's wrapped up tight and won't come loose during a storm. The best option is to wrap duct tape around the towel.

At what temperature should you wrap outside pipes?

Temperatures only need to drop to about 20° F for a few hours to put exposed pipes at risk. So, your best bet is to insulate your exposed pipes to keep that temperature well above the freezing point.

How do you cover outdoor pipes for winter?

Cover the exterior faucet with an insulated slip-on cover. This will prevent any remaining water from freezing. Exterior pipes should be wrapped with insulation tubing, which can be found at your local hardware store. Do not wrap your pipes with bath towels or newspaper!