When Chicago temperatures drop into deep-freeze territory, a slow drip from a few key faucets is one of the cheapest, easiest things you can do to protect your plumbing. It sounds too simple to matter, but it works, and the cost is measured in cents, not dollars.
Why it works
Moving water is harder to freeze than still water sitting in a pipe. A steady drip also relieves the pressure that builds up between a faucet and a blockage of ice, which is what actually causes pipes to burst. Water expands as it freezes, and if it has nowhere to go, something gives. A drip gives it somewhere to go.
When to start
Start dripping when the forecast calls for temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit for three hours or more, or any time you lose power in cold weather and can't rely on your furnace. Keep it up until temperatures climb back above 20 degrees consistently.
Which faucets to drip
- Faucets farthest from where water enters your home
- Faucets connected to pipes running through unheated spaces: basements, attics, crawl spaces, or garages
- Faucets on exterior walls, where pipes have the least insulation between them and the cold
- If you're not sure which pipes are most exposed, drip a faucet on each level of the house to cover more ground
Run the cold side, hot water pipes are less prone to freezing since they're typically routed with more protection, and a drop falling roughly every three seconds is enough. You don't need a steady stream.
What else helps
- Keep your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees, even if you're leaving town
- Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm room air can reach the pipes underneath
- Close the garage door if any water lines run through the garage
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and shut off and drain outdoor faucets, before winter sets in
- Insulate any exposed pipes you can access, foam pipe sleeves are inexpensive and easy to install
If a pipe does freeze or burst
Know where your main water shutoff valve is before you need it, that's the first move if a pipe bursts. If you find a frozen section that hasn't burst, you can try gently warming it with a hair dryer or warm towels, working from the faucet end toward the blockage, but never use an open flame. If you can't locate the frozen section, the water won't run, or you suspect a pipe has already burst, shut off the water and call a plumber right away.
