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At what temperature do pipes freeze?
Water freezes at 32°F, but pipes inside a heated house usually hold out until it's much colder outside. The International Code Council, citing research from IBHS, says unprotected pipes generally begin to freeze when outdoor temperatures drop to about 20°F. It isn't a hard line: pipes along outside walls with little or no insulation are among the first to go, and the longer a cold snap lasts, the more of them are at risk.
Which pipes freeze first
- Outdoor faucets (hose bibs), sprinkler lines, and pool supply lines
- Pipes in unheated spaces: basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and cabinets
- Pipes that run along outside walls with little or no insulation
Before a hard freeze
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses. Close the inside valve that feeds each outdoor faucet, then open the faucet outside so the water left in it can drain. How to winterize outdoor faucets
- Keep the garage door closed if there are water lines in the garage.
- Open the cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls so warm air reaches the pipes. Move cleaners out of children's reach.
- Let the cold water drip from a faucet fed by exposed pipes. Even a trickle helps keep the pipe from freezing.
- Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. If you'll be away, leave the heat on at 55°F or higher.
- Find your main water shutoff now, so you can close it fast if a pipe splits. How to find and shut off your main
If a pipe freezes
If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe, often along an outside wall or where the water line comes in through the foundation. Keep the faucet open, and warm the pipe with a hair dryer, an electric heating pad, or towels soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame. Check the other faucets too: if one pipe froze, others may have. If you can't find or reach the frozen section, or the pipe has split, shut off the main and call. Frozen pipe: what to do, step by step
Businesses, rentals, and empty units
A storefront closed for the holidays or a vacant rental is where a split pipe runs the longest before anyone notices. Keep the heat at 55°F or higher, open cabinet doors on outside walls, and have someone check the space during a cold snap, or shut off and drain the water. Backflow assemblies outdoors hold water too; if one at your business froze, we'll check it, quote the repair, and retest and file it. Winterizing an empty house or unit · Property managers
Sources: National Weather Service forecast API · U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files (city points) · International Code Council, citing IBHS (the 20°F guideline) · American Red Cross: frozen pipes. The forecast loads live from the National Weather Service for each city's Census reference point. Checked October 27, 2026.