How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in a Cincinnati Winter

To prevent frozen pipes, do four things before the first hard freeze: shut off and drain your outdoor faucets, insulate pipes in unheated spaces, seal drafts near plumbing, and keep the heat at 55°F or higher, even when you are away. On the coldest nights, open the cabinet doors under sinks and let a faucet drip. Also learn where your main water shutoff is, so you can stop a leak fast.

A burst pipe can dump a lot of water into a house before anyone notices. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety lists frozen pipes among the most common causes of winter losses that lead to insurance claims. Most of the prevention is cheap and takes an afternoon.

When do pipes start freezing in Cincinnati?

The National Weather Service office in Wilmington lists October 25 as the normal first 32°F reading at the Cincinnati airport (NWS Wilmington fall frost and freeze data). One 32°F night will not freeze most pipes. But the cold builds. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the airport show about 21 nights at or below freezing in December and about 24 in January (NOAA monthly normals).

Our winters also swing. A warm week can make people forget about the pipes right before an arctic blast. IBHS notes that frozen pipes are a particular risk in the central part of the country, where warm and cold weather often overlap.

Which pipes freeze first?

The American Red Cross says the pipes that freeze most often are:

• Pipes exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, pool supply lines, and sprinkler lines
• Supply pipes in unheated areas, like basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and kitchen cabinets
• Pipes that run along exterior walls with little or no insulation

The Red Cross also points to the spot where the water service enters the house through the foundation. In older homes, check any plumbing in an addition built over a crawl space too.

What should you do before the first hard freeze?

1. Disconnect garden hoses. A hose left on traps water in the faucet.
2. Shut off and drain outdoor faucets. The Red Cross says to close the inside valve that feeds each outdoor faucet, open the outside faucet to drain it, and leave it open so any leftover water has room to expand.
3. Know what kind of outdoor faucet you have. Frost-proof faucets hold up better. IBHS notes that homes built before 2010 typically do not have them, so shut off and insulate those valves.
4. Drain sprinkler and pool lines. Follow the installer's directions. The Red Cross warns not to put antifreeze in these lines unless you are told to.
5. Insulate exposed pipes. Use foam pipe sleeves in crawl spaces, garages, attics, and unheated basements. The Red Cross also mentions UL-listed heat tape or heat cable for exposed pipes.
6. Seal drafts near plumbing. IBHS recommends caulking cracks and gaps on the outside of the house. A small gap next to a pipe can freeze it.
7. Find your main water shutoff. Make sure every adult in the house can find it and turn it.

What should you do on very cold nights?

The Red Cross gives a few simple steps for the coldest weather:

• Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors so warm air reaches the pipes. Move cleaners out of children's reach.
• Let the cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. Water moving even at a trickle helps keep the pipe from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat the same day and night. You may pay a little more for heat. A burst pipe costs far more.

What temperature should you keep the house?

Here is what the main sources say:

The Red Cross and IBHS set 55°F as the floor. The Insurance Information Institute suggests 65°F during a deep cold snap. My advice: never go below 55°F. In a hard cold snap, keep the house warmer, especially if you have pipes in outside walls.

What if you are leaving for the winter or a long trip?

IBHS suggests that if you will be gone more than a week with freezing weather in the forecast, you consider shutting off the main water valve and draining a couple of faucets on the lowest floor. The Insurance Information Institute also recommends asking a neighbor to check the house regularly, and having a professional drain the water system if you will be gone a long time.

Leave the heat on either way.

How do you thaw a frozen pipe?

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. The Red Cross says to:

1. Keep the faucet open so water can flow as the ice melts.
2. Warm the pipe with an electric heating pad, a hair dryer, a space heater kept away from anything that can burn, or towels soaked in hot water.
3. Never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame.
4. Keep applying heat until full water pressure returns.
5. Check the other faucets. If one pipe froze, others may have too.

If you cannot find the frozen spot, cannot reach it, or cannot thaw it, call a licensed plumber.

What if a pipe bursts?

Move fast:

1. Shut off the main water valve.
2. Stay out of standing water near outlets and appliances. If water is near the electrical panel, call an electrician.
3. Photograph the damage before you move anything.
4. Call a plumber to fix the pipe.
5. Call your insurance company. The Insurance Information Institute says standard homeowners policies cover most damage from a freeze, including burst pipes. Your own policy decides.
6. Get the house dried out. Wet drywall, insulation, and flooring can grow mold if they stay wet. Our water damage guide explains what to do in the first hour.

For how Ohio claims work, see our Ohio claims guide.

How Shamrock can help

A plumber fixes the pipe. We fix what the water damaged. Shamrock provides water damage restoration in Cincinnati, West Chester, and nearby towns, including drywall, flooring, trim, and paint. We photograph the damage, write a repair scope, and can meet your adjuster at the house. Call (513) 999-9015. The phone line is answered 24 hours a day. You can also request a free estimate.

FAQ

Should I drip hot water or cold water? The Red Cross says to let the cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. The Insurance Information Institute suggests opening both hot and cold enough to drip. If both lines run along a cold wall, dripping both is reasonable.

Are frost-proof outdoor faucets enough? They help, but disconnect the hose. A hose left attached can trap water in the faucet so it freezes anyway.

Does homeowners insurance cover burst pipes? Often, yes. The Insurance Information Institute says standard policies cover most freeze damage, like burst pipes. Damage from long-term neglect or a slow leak may not be covered. Ask your agent.

Can I use a space heater to keep pipes warm? The Red Cross lists a space heater as one way to thaw a frozen pipe, kept away from anything that can burn. Never leave it running unattended, and never use an open flame.

Related guides

• Water damage in your Cincinnati home: what to do first
• Fall roof checklist before a Cincinnati winter
• Ice dams in Cincinnati: roof, gutter, and home damage