What to do before the first hard freeze

Why it's worth an afternoon

Water expands as it freezes, and that can break metal or plastic pipe. The Red Cross lists outdoor hose bibs among the pipes that freeze most often.

State Farm reports paying more than $628 million on over 20,000 frozen pipe and water claims from 2024 through June 2025, an average above $30,000. That is one insurer's data, but it shows the scale of a small crack.

Before the cold arrives

Do these once, before the first hard freeze.

• Unscrew every hose from the outdoor faucets, drain them and store them.
• Consider an insulated foam cover for each outdoor faucet. It helps, but it isn't enough on its own.
• If you have an indoor shutoff for an outdoor faucet, have a plumber close it and drain the line. Don't turn it yourself.
• Keep garage doors closed if water lines run through the garage.

On the coldest nights

These come straight from Red Cross guidance.

• Open sink cabinets so warm air reaches the pipes. Move cleaners out of children's reach first.
• Let a faucet on an exposed pipe drip.
• Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night.
• If you're going away, leave the heat on, no lower than 55 F.

If a faucet only trickles

Suspect a frozen pipe. Keep the faucet open and call a plumber. Never use an open flame on a pipe.

Sources

• American Red Cross: Frozen pipes
• State Farm: Frozen pipes news release
• State Farm: Steps to take
• NC State Extension: Preventing frozen pipes

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