Protecting your home and pipes from freezing
Unlike other liquids, water expands by 9% when it turns to ice. When water freezes inside a closed metal or plastic pipe, the pressure builds to over 2,000 pounds per square inch—splitting the pipe wide open and flooding your home.
If you only do three things
- Know where your home's Main Water Shutoff Valve is right now—if a pipe bursts, shutting that valve off immediately saves tens of thousands of dollars.
- When overnight temperatures drop below 28°F (-2°C), open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls and let faucets drip a pencil-lead trickle.
- Disconnect all garden hoses from outdoor spigots before the first freeze; a left-on hose traps water inside the wall and splits the pipe behind your siding.
Interactive: Will my pipes freeze tonight?
Select your home region/construction type, tonight's forecasted low temperature, and power status below for your exact pipe protection steps:
Interactive Pipe Freeze Risk & Drip Calculator
Why warm-climate homes are at the highest risk
In northern states like Minnesota or Maine, water pipes are buried deep below the frost line and routed through heated basements inside the home's thermal envelope.
In Texas, Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, and California, builders often run water pipes through uninsulated attics, exterior walls, vented crawlspaces, or garages. In these homes, 4 to 6 hours at 24–28°F (-4 to -2°C) is enough to freeze and burst unprotected pipes.
Pre-freeze home protection checklist
Do these steps before temperatures drop below freezing
Check off each step as you secure your home.
Helpful winter preparedness gear
Installs in 10 seconds over outdoor spigots to prevent exterior pipe splits.
Check availability →Wraps around vulnerable crawlspace or garage pipes and turns on automatically below 38°F.
Check availability →Lets you shut off the main street water valve in seconds if a pipe bursts.
Check availability →Related guides
- How to stop pipes from freezing tonight: Exact drip rates, hot vs. cold lines, and finding your main shutoff.
- What to do if a pipe freezes or bursts: How to thaw a frozen pipe safely without bursting it.
- Snow on roofs and ice dams: Preventing roof leaks caused by icicles and trapped meltwater.