How to Insulate Water Pipes to Prevent Freezing

To prevent water pipes from freezing in cold weather:

  • Open cabinet doors under sinks located on outside walls.
  • Leave hot and cold water dripping in faucets.
  • Put foam covers over outdoor spigots.
  • Insulate water pipes with foam pipe insulation.

Watch this video to find out more.

Further Information

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Danny Lipford: When the weatherman says the temperature’s really about to get cold, you have to be concerned with frozen pipes, which can lead to burst pipes. But there’s a few things you can do to prevent that from happening.

First of all, if you have any sinks on an outside wall, like a kitchen or a bath, make sure you open up those cabinets to allow the heated air to circulate inside those cabinets. Also, make sure you leave a little water dripping on one of your faucets so that water continues moving through those water lines. And the outside hose bibs, you can use an insulated cover to cover all of those up to prevent any problem with them.

Now the very best thing you can do if your house is up on piers like this, is to insulate all the water pipes underneath. And that’s what Allen and I are about to tackle.

Any kind of work under a house is dirty, but these disposable crawl suits make it a little less miserable.

All right, let’s give this a try. It won’t be too bad. Heck, there’s plastic under here. This is great. I don’t like this view back here, so if you can move along.

Allen Lyle: Sorry about that. Check this out, Danny. Right here.

Danny Lipford: What is it?

Allen Lyle: I think this is—the supply is going into the house—right here.

Danny Lipford: Yeah, that’d be good.

Allen Lyle: All right.

Danny Lipford: Let’s see. Sit up in here. I like these lights down here. Pretty cool. All right, let’s see. You got the scissors?

Allen Lyle: I do.

Danny Lipford: All right, right there. Let it go down into the ground a little bit. And then that one’s just about right for the other side.

8 COMMENTS

  1. Let the water run a little to keep it moving through the pipe? I’m surprised this video hasn’t been outlawed out here in CA! 😉

  2. We run the hot n the cold water to keep them from freezing…n flush the commode during the night . The commode n bedroom an washer still freezes…help

  3. We are building a house on the coast of MA. The house is elevated 5′ above ground because we are in a flood zone. What is the best practice to prevent the incoming water supply from freezing. A 1″ copper line runs from the shut off at the street, 5′ below grade and into my house. The meter is inside the house. A local contractor recommended using a 10″pvc pipe filled with spray foam from 5′ below grade all the way up and into the house to the floor level. I’m just not sure this is enough, any thoughts?

    • Hi, Paul,
      Danny says, “I would say it sounds like the insulated pipe would be a great way to go and I feel confident you won’t have any frozen pipes. Thanks for your question!”

  6. We had water pipe bursted in our basement with water damage. The Plumer found the bursted pipe and left open. Need new insulation, any suggestions how I can hire professional person to do the job?

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