Winterizing a Home and Preventing Frozen Pipes During Outages

Frozen-pipe risk depends on weather, pipe location, insulation, air leakage, heating, and local construction. A national article cannot prescribe one thermostat setting or faucet drip for every home.

Use American Red Cross frozen-pipe guidance, local utility instructions, the plumbing-system documentation, and a qualified plumber for the property.

This guide is for property-specific pipe inspection, shutoff access, insulation, local drip guidance, and safe response to a suspected freeze. Use the broader winter-storm preparedness guide and safe emergency heating options for alerts, travel, supplies, and cold-weather power decisions.

Before freezing weather

• Find and label the main water shutoff.
• Make sure the shutoff is accessible and household members know who can operate it.
• Inspect pipes in exterior walls, garages, crawl spaces, cabinets, attics, and other unheated areas.
• Seal known air leaks with materials appropriate to the location.
• Install pipe insulation according to the product instructions.
• Use electric heat cable only when listed for the pipe and location and installed exactly as directed.
• Disconnect outdoor hoses and protect exterior fixtures according to local guidance.
• Repair leaks before cold weather.

Do not wrap damaged wiring, place portable combustion heaters near pipes, or improvise a stove or flame in a crawl space.

During freezing weather or an outage

• Keep garage doors closed when water lines pass through the garage.
• Open sink cabinets only when doing so safely exposes pipes to warmer room air and does not endanger children or pets.
• Follow the local utility’s advice on whether and how much to let a faucet drip.
• Monitor known vulnerable areas without entering unsafe crawl spaces or attics.
• Keep the water shutoff path clear.
• Leave for a safe heated location before the home becomes unsafe.

Document the shutoff, plumber, utility, and backup location before freezing weather.

If a faucet slows or a pipe may be frozen

1. Stop and check for leaks or bulging pipe.
2. Shut off water when the home plan, utility, or plumber directs it.
3. Keep people away from water near electrical equipment.
4. Never use a torch, candle, heat gun, or other open flame.
5. Contact a qualified plumber when the pipe is inaccessible, damaged, or cannot be thawed safely.

Safe thawing guidance commonly uses gentle heat such as warm air or approved methods, but the correct method depends on pipe material, location, and damage. Do not apply heat to a pipe you cannot inspect.

If a pipe bursts

• Shut off water if it can be done safely.
• Avoid standing water near outlets, panels, appliances, and cords.
• Call emergency services for immediate electrical, structural, or fire danger.
• Contact a plumber and insurer as appropriate.
• Photograph damage only from a safe location.
• Follow local instructions for cleanup, drinking water, and mold prevention.

Do not re-energize wet electrical equipment. Use qualified electrical help.

Keep water available without risky improvisation

Keep a potable reserve before winter. Store containers where they are protected from freezing, contamination, and falling. Do not add salt or another substance to drinking water as freeze protection.

Before freezing weather, add the shutoff location, plumber, and potable-water reserve to the Outage Readiness Planner.

Questions about freeze protection

At what temperature should I drip a faucet?

Follow the local utility or plumber’s instructions for the specific property. Pipe location, insulation, wind, heating, construction, and local weather matter, so one national temperature is not reliable for every home.

Can I use a space heater near vulnerable pipes?

Only if the exact heater manual, location, electrical supply, clearances, and supervision rules permit it. Never place a fuel heater in a crawl space, cabinet, or confined area, and never overload an extension cord or backup battery.

Does pipe insulation prevent every freeze?

No. It slows heat loss but does not add heat or correct leaks, air exposure, long cold periods, or loss of building heat. Combine it with maintenance, local guidance, monitoring, and a shutoff plan.

Special systems that need their own instructions

Private wells

A power outage can stop the well pump and pressure system. Record the pump load, pressure-tank behavior, safe shutdown, restart process, and approved backup-power method from the installer and manuals. Do not connect a generator to household wiring without an approved transfer method.

Fire sprinklers

Do not shut off, drain, insulate, or heat a fire-sprinkler system based on ordinary plumbing advice. Contact the building owner, fire-sprinkler service, or local fire authority for the installed system.

Irrigation and exterior plumbing

Follow the manufacturer, installer, and local winterization requirements for irrigation, backflow devices, outdoor kitchens, pools, and accessory buildings. Compressed-air winterization and backflow work may require trained service.

Multi-unit buildings

Report low heat, leaks, frozen lines, and water pressure changes to building management promptly. Know the building’s emergency number and water-shutoff process. Do not operate a shared shutoff or add heat to a utility room without authorization.

Vacant or seasonal homes

Arrange property-specific plumbing, heating, monitoring, and access plans with qualified services and the insurer. A single thermostat setting does not account for power failure, fuel interruption, equipment faults, or remote alarm loss.