Question type · 5 questions
It froze
Thawing a frozen pipe safely, outdoor faucets that split, crawlspaces and what to do before a winter trip.
Maryland winters aren't brutal most years, which is part of the problem. A cold snap catches a pipe along an exterior wall, in a crawlspace or behind an outdoor faucet, and the leak only shows up when it thaws.
If a pipe is frozen right now, read how to thaw a basement pipe safely first. Gentle heat works; an open flame never belongs near a pipe. If an outdoor spigot froze and now there's water inside the wall, this answer explains how that happens. Pipes under the house get their own question.
Heading out of town in January? The American Red Cross says to keep the heat no lower than 55°F while you're away. Our travel checklist adds what to do with the main valve and any water treatment equipment.
The questions
A pipe in the basement froze. How do we thaw it safely?
To thaw frozen pipes safely, open the nearest cold faucet, then warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer, heating pad or hot towels until full pressure comes back. Never use an open flame of any kind.
At what temperature do pipes freeze in a basement or crawlspace?
There's no single pipes-freezing temperature to watch on the weather app. Risk depends on how cold the air around the pipe gets, how long it stays that cold, and whether drafts or missing insulation let winter reach it.
Our outside faucet froze and now it leaks inside the wall. What happened?
An outdoor faucet frozen with a hose still attached usually splits the long tube that runs back through the wall. The crack stays hidden until you next open the faucet, then water pours into the wall or basement.
How do we keep crawlspace pipes from freezing?
To keep crawl space pipes from freezing, stop the cold air first, then insulate: close up drafts and openings, put insulation between the pipes and the outside, and add UL-listed heat cable where runs stay exposed.
We're going away in January. What should we do with the water?
Leaving the house in winter, keep the heat at 55°F or higher, shut and drain the outdoor faucets, and either arrange daily checks on the house or close the main water valve before you go.
