Home / Your home

Frozen pipes: how to prevent them and thaw them safely

Preventing frozen pipes before a freeze, finding your shutoff, signs a pipe is frozen, thawing safely, what to do if a pipe bursts, and renters.

Quick answer

Before a hard freeze, let faucets on outside walls drip, open cabinet doors under sinks, keep the heat at 55°F or higher even when away, and unhook outdoor hoses. Know where your main water shutoff is. If only a trickle comes out, a pipe may be frozen; keep the faucet open and thaw it with a hair dryer, heating pad or warm towels, never an open flame. If a pipe bursts, shut off the main valve, call a plumber and photograph damage. Renters should tell their landlord.

Watch full screen

Your checklist

  • Let faucets drip; open sink cabinets
  • Keep heat at 55°F or higher
  • Unhook outdoor hoses
  • Know your main water shutoff
  • Thaw gently; never use flame
  • Burst? Shut off water, call a plumber

Rather read it? Here’s the whole thing.

Before a freeze

  • Let faucets on exterior walls drip slowly.
  • Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks to let warm air in.
  • Keep the thermostat at 55°F or higher, day and night, even if you’re traveling.
  • Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses; shut off outdoor faucets from inside if you can.
  • Insulate pipes in unheated areas like crawl spaces, garages and attics.

Know your shutoff

Find the main water shutoff valve now, and make sure everyone in the home knows where it is.

Signs of a frozen pipe

Little or no water from a faucet, frost on exposed pipes, or odd smells from drains.

Thawing safely

Keep the faucet open. Apply gentle heat starting nearest the faucet: a hair dryer, heating pad, warm towels, or a space heater kept a safe distance away and watched. Never use a torch, open flame or charcoal. If you can’t find or reach the frozen section, call a plumber.

If a pipe bursts

Shut off the main water, stay away from water near outlets, call a plumber, and photograph the damage. Sudden bursts are often covered by homeowners insurance if the home was kept heated. Dry everything within a day or two to prevent mold.

Renters

Tell your landlord right away, in writing, and keep the heat on.

Official sources, and where to look

To find your local office, search for:

  • [your city] emergency plumber
  • [your utility] water shutoff help

Pick sites that end in .gov. Official forms are almost always free.

Common questions

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

Risk rises when temperatures drop well below freezing, especially for pipes in unheated spaces or on outside walls. More ›

Will insurance cover a burst pipe from freezing?

Often, if the burst was sudden and you kept the home reasonably heated. Damage from neglect may not be covered. More ›

How do I keep my pipes from freezing?

Let faucets drip, open sink cabinet doors, keep heat at 55°F or higher, unhook outdoor hoses, and insulate pipes in unheated areas. More ›

How do I know if a pipe is frozen?

Little or no water comes out of a faucet, or you see frost on exposed pipes. More ›

How do I thaw a frozen pipe?

Keep the faucet open and apply gentle heat with a hair dryer, heating pad or warm towels. Never use an open flame. More ›

Should I leave my faucets dripping?

Yes, during hard freezes, especially faucets on outside walls. Moving water is less likely to freeze. More ›

See all questions (8)

Know someone who needs this?

Part of:Something broke at home

Not yet reviewed by an expert. Last checked 2026-10-29. This is general help, not legal, medical or professional advice. Rules are different in every state.