Homeowner guide · Winter readiness
Preventing Frozen Pipes in Winter
A January cold snap in York Region can push a pipe past its limit overnight. Most freezes happen in the same handful of places, and most can be prevented with a little attention in the fall.
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Jump to a section
- Where pipes freeze
- Insulation and heat
- Dripping taps and open cabinets
- When you travel
- If a pipe has frozen
Quick checklist
Have these on hand
- Bucket and old towels
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Adjustable wrench and channel-lock pliers
- Rubber gloves
Stop and call when
- Water is coming through a ceiling
- A drain is backing up into the basement
- There is a gas odour: get outside before phoning anyone
- A fitting will not loosen without twisting the pipe behind it
Where pipes freeze
Water lines freeze where cold air reaches them and household heat does not. In Aurora homes we see the same culprits winter after winter:
- Supply lines running through an attached garage.
- Pipes along an outside wall, especially under a kitchen sink.
- Crawlspaces and cantilevered floors over a bay window or overhang.
- Lines feeding outdoor taps that were never drained.
- Basement rim joists where insulation is thin or missing.
Ice does not always split the pipe where it forms. Pressure builds between the ice plug and a closed tap, and the break often happens a few feet away. That is why a leak may not appear until the line thaws.
Insulation and heat
Foam pipe sleeves are inexpensive and easy to fit on exposed runs in a basement or garage. Seal drafts around the rim joist and where pipes or cables pass through exterior walls; a gap the width of a pencil can blow freezing air straight onto a copper line.
For a stubborn spot, a plumber or electrician can install thermostatically controlled heat cable rated for water pipes. Use only products listed for that purpose and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Dripping taps and open cabinets
On the coldest nights, let a tap on an outside wall run at a thin, steady drip. Moving water is slower to freeze, and the open tap eases pressure if ice does form. Open the cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm room air can reach the pipes.
Keep the thermostat steady overnight rather than dropping it sharply. The savings from a deep setback are small next to the cost of a burst line.
When you travel
Leaving for a week in February takes some planning. Keep the heat on, ideally no lower than a moderate setting, and ask someone to look in every couple of days. Shutting the main water valve before you go limits the damage if something does fail. Our vacation checklist walks through the full routine; shut the inside valve to each hose bib and leave the outdoor tap open to drain.
If a pipe has frozen
No water from a tap on a frigid morning usually means ice. Shut the main valve if you suspect a split, open the affected tap and warm the area gently. If water appears where it should not, follow our burst pipe steps and call for burst pipe repair.
Pipes that froze once tend to freeze again. Jot down where trouble showed up this winter, and plan to insulate, reroute or seal that spot during the warmer months, when the work is easier and nobody is shivering in the garage.
Aurora customers often ask
What temperature do pipes freeze at?
There is no single number. Pipes in a drafty garage or exterior wall can freeze during a prolonged cold snap even when the house feels warm, because the pipe itself is exposed to much colder air.
Should I leave every tap dripping?
No. One or two taps on outside walls, or on lines that have frozen before, are usually enough on the coldest nights.
Is heat cable safe to use?
Cable rated for water pipes and installed as directed is generally safe. Avoid overlapping it or wrapping it in insulation unless the instructions allow it.