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January 23, 2026

How to Avoid Frozen Pipes

When temperatures plunge, frozen pipes can quickly turn from a small inconvenience into a major headache. A frozen pipe can block water flow, create pressure buildup, and, if left unaddressed, can lead to cracks or full pipe bursts that cause expensive damage.

Homeowners often discover frozen pipes only when they turn on a faucet or flush a toilet, and nothing happens. Knowing the early warning signs and how to prevent frozen pipes can save you time, stress, and money.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
Prevention is easier, and cheaper, than repairing damage. These proactive steps can help keep your pipes safe:

Locate and Test Your Main Water Shut‑Off Valve: Before anything freezes, make sure you know where your main valve is and that it works properly.
Insulate Pipes in Vulnerable Areas: Pipes in unheated or draft‑prone zones like basements, crawl spaces, garages, and exterior walls need extra protection. Wrap them with pipe insulation, heat tape, or even newspaper as a temporary measure.
Keep Water Working During Deep Freezes: A small trickle of water from faucets can relieve pressure buildup and help prevent freezing. Capture the water in a container to use for watering indoor plants or other uses.
Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses: Water left in outdoor lines can freeze and cause indoor pipes to burst. Remove hoses and, if possible, shut off the valve leading to outdoor spigots and let them drain fully.

How to Tell If Your Pipes Are Frozen
Below are several leading indicators you can watch for:

Little or No Water Flow: If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, the pipe leading to that fixture may be frozen. This is one of the earliest and most common signs.
Frost or Condensation on the Outside of Pipes: Inspect exposed pipes in crawl spaces, under sinks, basements, garages, and along exterior walls. Visible frost or a pipe that feels unusually cold is a strong signal that water inside has frozen.
Bulging Pipes: Ice expands as it forms, putting pressure on the walls of your pipes. A bulge often means the pipe is under strain and at risk of bursting.
Unusual Sounds: Whistling, bubbling, or gurgling when the water is running can happen when water is trying to move past an ice blockage.

What to Do If Your Pipes Are Already Frozen
If you suspect a frozen pipe:

Turn off your main water valve to prevent flooding if the pipe bursts.
Open the affected faucet to relieve pressure.
Apply gentle heat using a hair dryer, heating pad, or warm towels. Start from the faucet end and work backward. For safety, never leave these items unattended.
Never use an open flame such as a blowtorch, it is a major fire hazard.
Call a professional plumber if you cannot locate the frozen point or are unsure how to thaw it.

If you suspect a main break
Visit your American Water state website or log in to your MyWater account and check the Customer Advisory Map to see if the break has already been detected and to check the status of the repair. If no information is found, then reporting is easy by using our fully automated system that will guide you through the process step-by-step.

Customers can report a main break at amwater.com/mywater and noncustomers can report via emergency.amwater.com.