Winter weather conditions can cause pipes in your home to freeze and burst—but there are measures you can take to protect your home (and your wallet) from water damage, even after a pipe has frozen.

Winterizing

your home can mean putting up a Christmas tree, adding a throw blanket to the back of your couch, or firing up the old wood stove—but there are a few decidedly less jolly tasks associated with the holiday season, too.

If you live in an area where winter temperatures regularly dip into the teens, you’re likely at risk of your pipes freezing. Frozen pipes can crack and burst, spilling water into your home and potentially costing you thousands of dollars in damage control.

To help save you stress and money this winter, insurance comparison super app

Jerry

has put together a list of everything you need to know to keep your pipes from freezing—and what to do if it happens anyway.

Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds

No spam · No long forms · No fees

Find insurance savings

What causes pipes to freeze?

When your pipes freeze, it’s usually the result of a combination of problems, such as:

Temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower

Insufficient insulation

Pipes located in uninsulated or drafty areas (attics, crawl spaces)

Pipes located in exterior walls

Basically, cold and wintery conditions can easily lead to frozen pipes.

How to prevent your pipes from freezing

Pipes located in exterior walls, drafty areas, or other uninsulated parts of your home are the most prone to freezing—but in extreme temperatures, even interior pipes can become vulnerable.

To help prevent your pipes from freezing, try one or more of the following steps:

Add insulation to unheated interior spaces or around the pipes themselves (you can use

heating tape

pipe insulation

)

Leave kitchen and bathroom cabinets open for better air circulation

Leave your faucets slightly open (just a drip or trickle) on the coldest days to encourage water flow and prevent freezing

Drain water from pipes that are likely to freeze, such as your swimming pool and sprinkler water supply lines

Disconnect hoses and keep them in the garage, and keep your garage door closed

Seal any cracks in your walls (particularly exterior walls)

Keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit

Key Takeaway In the coldest months, take precautions like leaving your faucets slightly open and insulating any exposed piping to prevent your pipes from freezing.

MORE:

How to decipher home insurance quotes

What to do when your pipes freeze

There are a couple of tell-tale ways to figure out if a pipe is frozen. One of the earliest signs is a lack of running water—if you turn on the faucet and get only a trickle (or nothing at all), you’ll want to investigate immediately. In other cases, you may smell a strong sewage odor or be able to see frost on the pipe itself.

From there, you’ll need to act quickly, as frozen pipes can crack and burst if left unattended. The safest way to thaw a frozen pipe is to call a plumber—they’ll have the specialized equipment to defrost the problem pipe, especially if it’s located in a tricky-to-access area, and can make sure the pipe isn’t cracked or damaged after the fact.

You can also try to thaw the pipe yourself, but be aware of the risks. If not done carefully, thawing a pipe can be dangerous.

Here’s what to do if your pipes freeze:

Shut off your main water valve: Typically, you’ll find your main water valve near the perimeter of your home. You’ll want to turn all the water off before handling the frozen pipe.

Locate the frozen pipe: If it’s behind a wall or difficult to access, it’s best to opt for a professional’s help.

Open any faucets connected to that pipe to help relieve pressure.

Check for a leak: If you find a leak or crack, you’ll want to call a professional right away.

Attempt to thaw: You can attempt to thaw the pipe yourself using a hairdryer, space heater, or by wrapping the pipe in an electric heating pad or hot towels. Do not use an open-flame device to thaw a frozen pipe.

If you find it’s your drainpipe that’s frozen, you can also attempt to thaw it by pouring a mixture of hot water and kosher salt down the drain. Repeat this process a couple of times to clear out the frozen water.

Remember, even if a frozen pipe appears fine, it’s always best to have a professional plumber take a look. Even if your pipe didn’t crack or burst and you manage to get it thawed, the ice inside a pipe can weaken or damage it.

Key Takeaway Deferring to a professional is always your safest bet, but you can try to defrost your pipes yourself. Just tread carefully.

MORE:

How to choose the right kind of home insurance for you

Does insurance cover frozen pipes?

Mitigating water damage caused by frozen pipes can come with a hefty price tag.

The good news is, home insurance plans typically cover some water damage, but these claims can also be tricky to navigate. Many policies cover damage from burst pipes as long as the damage was unavoidable.

Your home insurance policy may only cover up to a certain percent of the costs of repairs or only cover certain contractors to mitigate the water damage in your home, so it’s important to do your research!

MORE:

Does homeowner’s insurance cover bellied pipes?

Finding affordable home insurance

No matter the season,

Jerry

can help you find savings on your home, renters, and auto insurance.

Jerry is an insurance comparison and broker app that helps you shop for low prices from top name-brand companies, including Allstate, Travelers, and Progressive. Once you download the app and input your information, Jerry will pull you dozens of quotes in seconds, at competitive rates that don’t sacrifice your coverage.

We can switch your policy (including taking care of all of the pesky paperwork) and even help you cancel your old plan!

“A super easy app for great savings. I gave them my information and got quotes from
Jerry
very quickly! Now I’m saving $108/month.” —Kiyoshi A.

FAQs

What happens if your pipes freeze?

Frozen pipes can crack and burst, causing water damage that could potentially be severe. If you find you have a frozen pipe in your home, you’ll want to address it immediately to avoid further problems.

How do I thaw frozen pipes?

You can call a plumber to come thaw a frozen pipe in your home or you can attempt to thaw the pipe yourself using a hairdryer, electric heating pad, or hot towels or by placing a space heater in a nearby area. You should never use a blowtorch, kerosene heater, or any open flame device when attempting to thaw frozen pipes.

Save an average of 18% by bundling your home and auto insurance

Bundle your home and auto insurance with Jerry and save!

Try Jerry