Frozen Pipes and Your Home

Pipes freeze when temperatures drop and cold air reaches them, especially in exterior walls, crawlspaces and unheated areas. Keep the heat on, insulate vulnerable pipes, let faucets drip and thaw safely if one freezes.

Why pipes freeze here

With winters that regularly reach -10°F to -20°F, pipes in exterior walls, unheated basements, crawlspaces, garages and camps are at risk. Water expands as it turns to ice, and the pressure between the ice blockage and a closed faucet is what bursts the pipe. A small split can release hundreds of gallons once it thaws.

Most burst pipes are found when the ice melts and water starts flowing, often in a part of the house you are not using. Frozen pipes are a common cause of winter insurance claims in the Northeast.

Where it happens

• Pipes in exterior walls, especially on the north side
• Unheated crawlspaces and basements
• Attics, garages and breezeways
• Pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks along outside walls
• Seasonal homes and camps when the heat fails

Camps, vacation homes and properties with shut-off wells are especially exposed because no one is there to notice a drop in temperature.

Prevent it before the cold snap

• Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves or heat tape made for pipes
• Seal drafts and holes around pipes in rim joists and walls
• Disconnect hoses and shut off outdoor spigots
• On very cold nights, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls
• Let a faucet drip slowly on the coldest nights
• Keep the thermostat at 55°F or above, even when away

Hot-water baseboard and boiler heating systems have their own pipes that can freeze if the heat is off, and they may need glycol or professional draining. Ask us if you leave a hydronic system unattended.

If a pipe freezes

If a faucet only trickles or nothing comes out, a pipe may be frozen. Open the faucet, then apply gentle heat with a hair dryer or heating pad from the faucet end back toward the blockage. Never use an open flame or torch. If you see a split, shut the main water valve and call a plumber.

Once the water runs again, check for leaks along the pipe. A pipe that froze may have cracked even if it is not dripping yet.

The heating system is part of the answer

The biggest cause of frozen pipes is a heating system that stops. A furnace or boiler failure, an empty oil tank or a power outage can allow a house to freeze in a day or two. Keep fuel tanks above a quarter full, schedule a fall tune-up, and have a plan for outages. See our furnace readiness checklist.

Oil and propane customers should order before the tank gets low, and watch gauges during extended cold spells. Wind makes a poorly sealed house lose heat even faster.

If your heat goes out

Call right away. Our 24/7 AI booking line at (518) 333-7431 books no-heat emergencies at any hour, and our no-heat help page at /heat-out/ has quick checks. See also emergency HVAC repair. Open interior doors to circulate heat toward plumbing walls.

A portable heater is a stopgap and has its own risks, so use one only as directed and never leave it unattended.

Camps and second homes

If you leave a seasonal property, either drain the plumbing or keep reliable heat. A heat pump can hold a safe temperature at low operating cost, and the Mitsubishi Comfort App lets you monitor it remotely. Discuss options with us.

Frequently asked questions