Insulate All Exposed Pipes
Both of our plumbing pros say the first thing to do is insulate all exposed pipes before the cold weather hits. Hyde recommends paying special attention to the pipes in unheated areas such as garages, crawl spaces, and attics. He also says foam pipe insulation sleeves or heat tape are great supplies to use for this task since they keep the pipes protected.
Disconnect & Drain Outdoor Hoses
The next thing you'll need to do is disconnect and drain your outdoor hoses. Troutman says, "this is the simplest fix, and it really helps prevent freezing from backing up into the wall." Once you've disconnected the hoses and let them drain completely, he recommends covering them with an insulated hose bib cover to block the extreme temperatures.
Cover Outdoor Faucets
Like your hoses, you'll definitely need to cover your outdoor faucets, too. You can do this with foam coverings or faucet covers from a nearby hardware store.
Drip Faucets Overnight
Of course the old tried-and-true freeze trick would make the list. Both pros say during a freeze, you should let your faucets drip overnight to prevent a pressure buildup. "In a deep freeze, open an indoor faucet as far away as possible from your water meter and let both the hot and cold water taps run slowly at a trickle that is roughly the size of a pencil lead," says Troutman.
Find Your Water Shut-Off Valve
While this isn't an actionable step like others on the list, knowing where your water shut-off valve is might come in handy if you need to turn your water supply off. "If a pipe does burst, you know where the valve is so you can quickly shut off the water to your home to minimize the damage," says Hyde. "For homes that experience frequent freezing issues, installing a smart water leak detector or automatic shut-off system can provide extra peace of mind."
Open Your Cabinet Doors
Lastly, an interesting hack we picked up from Hyde and Troutman is to keep your cabinet doors open during the night. "Your home’s interior heat will be in better contact with the plumbing to help prevent frozen pipes," Troutman says. If your sinks are against an exterior wall, he recommends opening or removing the cabinet doors below.
By Ashlyn Needham
Ashlyn Needham
Ashlyn Needham is an expert decor and design writer with 6 years of writing for brands and personal clients. She has been published in The Spruce, Southern Living, House Digest, Family Handyman, and more.
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Published on January 22, 2026