Yes, letting a faucet drip during a hard freeze can help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting. A slow, steady drip keeps water moving and relieves pressure in the line, which lowers the chance of a split pipe.
Why a Drip Helps
When water freezes inside a pipe, the ice pushes on the water trapped between the ice and the closed faucet. That pressure is what usually bursts the pipe. An open faucet gives the pressure somewhere to go. Moving water is also slower to freeze than water that sits still.
Which Faucets to Drip
- Faucets on outside walls, especially in the kitchen
- Sinks in rooms over a garage or crawl space
- Fixtures that have frozen in past winters
- The faucet farthest from where the main water line enters the house
For a sink with separate handles, open both hot and cold slightly so both lines get some flow. A drip about the speed of a slow pulse is usually enough.
Other Steps to Take on Very Cold Nights
Open the cabinet doors under sinks so warm room air can reach the pipes. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. If you will be away, do not turn the heat down too far. Close garage doors if water lines run through the garage.
What Dripping Will Not Fix
A drip helps, but it cannot protect a pipe that sits in a very cold, unheated space. Those pipes need insulation or other protection. And if a faucet gives no water at all on a cold morning, the line may already be frozen. Do not wait for it to thaw on its own if you can see frost or a bulge on the pipe.
If a frozen line has cracked, close the main valve and avoid any wet outlets. Getting a frozen or split pipe repaired quickly limits how far the water spreads.
To find out which pipes in your house are most at risk, you can have a plumber walk through your home by calling JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840.