How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Where pipes are most at risk

• Kitchen sinks on exterior walls
• Bathrooms over unheated garages
• Pipes near basement rim joists
• Outdoor taps and their supply lines
• Unheated crawl spaces and cottages

Prevention steps

1. Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves, especially near the rim joist.
2. Seal air leaks around pipe penetrations.
3. Open cabinet doors below sinks that sit against exterior walls when the cold deepens.
4. Let a tap drip overnight when temperatures fall well below freezing.
5. Keep the heat on when away, at a safe minimum.
6. Close outside tap valves, as described in our winterizing guide.

If a pipe freezes

1. Open the tap it supplies so melting water can escape.
2. Apply gentle heat with a hair dryer or hot cloths, working back from the tap.
3. Never use an open flame.
4. If the pipe has split, close the main valve at once.

A split pipe needs repair; see burst pipe repair. Bathrooms over garages can also have slow drains from ice in the trap; see bathroom drain cleaning. If the water heater struggles in deep cold, flushing it as in our flushing guide may help.

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