Preventing frozen pipes through a Connecticut winter

Frozen pipe calls arrive in clusters - a hard freeze on a Tuesday night produces a week of burst pipe work. Almost all of it is preventable with a couple of hours of preparation in the autumn.

Published 2026-08-30 by Floriano Plumbing Service · Serving all of Connecticut · (888) 809-6756

Where pipes actually freeze

• Unheated crawl spaces and basements
• Garages, especially where a supply line runs along an exterior wall
• Attics with plumbing to a second-floor bathroom
• Inside exterior walls, particularly on the north side
• Exterior hose bibs with the hose still attached
• Vacant or seasonally used properties

The autumn checklist

1. Disconnect and drain every garden hose, then shut off and drain the exterior spigots.
2. Insulate exposed pipe in crawl spaces, garages and attics. Foam sleeves are inexpensive and effective.
3. Seal the gaps where the service line and any pipe penetrations enter the building. Cold air tracks along pipe.
4. Fit heat cable to any run that has frozen before. It has already told you it is vulnerable.
5. Locate and test the main shut-off. Turn it fully off and on. Valves seize.
6. For seasonal or empty properties, either keep heat at 55F minimum or have the system properly drained down.

During a hard freeze

• Let a thin trickle run from the tap furthest from the main - moving water is much harder to freeze
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so room heat reaches the pipes
• Keep the garage door closed if there is plumbing in there
• Do not turn the heat down at night during a cold snap, even if you normally do
• Check the crawl space if there is one, and block off any vents you can safely close

If a pipe is already frozen

The tell is a tap that gives nothing or a trickle on a freezing morning while other taps run fine. Open that tap so the pipe can relieve pressure and so you know the moment flow returns. Apply gentle heat along the pipe from the tap end back toward the frozen section - hair dryer or a space heater kept clear of anything flammable. Never an open flame.

If you cannot reach the pipe, if it is inside a wall, or if flow does not return within an hour, call. And be ready for the split to reveal itself the moment the ice clears.

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Frequently asked questions

At what temperature do pipes freeze?

Damage risk rises sharply below about 20F outside, and unheated spaces get colder than the forecast suggests. Wind chill on an exposed exterior wall matters as much as the air temperature.

Should I leave taps dripping all winter?

Only during genuine cold snaps, and only on vulnerable runs. It is a short-term measure, not a substitute for insulation.

Can pipes freeze inside a heated house?

Yes, inside exterior walls and in rooms with poor air circulation. That is why opening cabinet doors under sinks helps.