Prevention focuses on keeping pipes warm, blocking cold air, and finding vulnerable runs before a severe cold snap.
Before winter
- Identify the main shutoff and make sure it turns.
- Insulate accessible lines in unheated spaces.
- Seal drafts near rim joists, sill plates, utility penetrations, and hose bibs.
- Disconnect outdoor hoses and winterize exterior plumbing.
- Service the heating system and replace weak backup batteries.
During extreme cold
Keep indoor temperatures steady, open cabinet doors where sink plumbing sits on an exterior wall, and monitor rooms above garages or near crawl spaces. A small, code-compliant flow may help a known vulnerable line, but it does not replace insulation or air sealing.
If you leave home
Do not turn the heat off. Arrange temperature monitoring or a trusted person to check the property, and follow insurer or plumbing guidance for extended winter absences.