Inside the House
- Keep the heat on: Set your thermostat to at least 55°F, even if you’re away.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks (especially on exterior walls) to let warm air circulate.
- Let faucets drip during extreme cold—moving water is much harder to freeze.
- Seal drafts: Caulk or foam around pipes, windows, doors, and where pipes enter walls.
- Know your shutoff valve: If a pipe does freeze or burst, you’ll want to act fast.
Insulate, Insulate, Insulate
- Wrap exposed pipes in basements, crawlspaces, garages, and attics with foam pipe insulation or heat tape.
- Insulate crawl spaces and attics—cold air sneaks in from above and below more than people realize.
Outside the Home
- Disconnect and drain hoses.
- Shut off outdoor water lines if you have interior shutoffs; drain them completely.
- Cover outdoor spigots with insulated faucet covers (cheap and effective).
Extra Cold Weather Tips
- If a pipe feels frozen, do not use an open flame to thaw it—use a hair dryer, heating pad, or warm towels.
- If you’ll be away for days, consider having someone check the house or install a smart freeze alarm.
