Five things to do before the first hard freeze
Published 10:54 pm Wednesday, November 11, 2026
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1. Disconnect garden hoses. A hose left on traps water in the spigot, and that water freezes and cracks the pipe inside the wall. This applies to frost-free spigots too. If you have an indoor shutoff for the outside faucet, close it and open the outside faucet to drain it.
2. Insulate exposed pipes. Pipes in garages, crawlspaces and on outside walls freeze first. Foam pipe sleeves from the hardware store are inexpensive and take minutes to install.
3. Know where your main water shutoff is. If a pipe bursts, every minute counts. Find the valve now, make sure it turns, and show everyone in the house.
4. On the coldest nights, open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls and let a faucet drip slightly. Keep the thermostat at 55°F or higher, even if you’re away.
5. If a pipe freezes, open the faucet and warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer, starting at the faucet end. Never use an open flame. If the pipe has burst, shut off the main water and call a plumber.
A few minutes of preparation now can save thousands of dollars in water damage.
