Preventing Frozen & Burst Pipes This Oklahoma Winter
A hard freeze can turn an ordinary pipe into a burst-pipe emergency in a matter of hours. These are the specific, proven steps that actually reduce that risk.
Prevent frozen pipes by insulating exposed lines in attics, basements, crawl spaces, and exterior walls; keeping your thermostat at a consistent temperature (no lower than 55 degrees, even when away); opening cabinet doors to let warm air reach under-sink plumbing; disconnecting and draining outdoor hoses; and letting a trickle of water run from an indoor faucet on an exterior wall during a hard freeze. If a pipe has already burst, shut off your main water valve and call (405) 347-6460 immediately.
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Foam pipe insulation sleeves are inexpensive and widely available, and they're the single most effective physical barrier against freezing. Focus on attics, basements, and crawl spaces, insulating both hot and cold lines in these unheated areas since either can freeze under the right conditions. For pipes in particularly exposed locations, UL-listed heat tape or heat cable adds an extra layer of protection.
Keep a Consistent Thermostat Temperature
Set your thermostat to the same temperature day and night rather than lowering it overnight to save energy — the temperature swing is exactly when pipes in marginal locations are most likely to freeze. If you're traveling during a cold stretch, leave the heat on and set no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit rather than turning it off.
Open Cabinet Doors During a Freeze
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets often hide plumbing against an exterior wall with little insulation of their own. Opening the cabinet doors during a hard freeze lets warmer room air circulate around that plumbing, which can be enough to prevent a freeze in an otherwise vulnerable spot.
Prepare Outdoor Connections
Disconnect, drain, and store garden hoses before the first hard freeze. Close the interior shutoff valve supplying any outdoor hose bib, then open the outdoor bib itself to let any remaining water drain out — a step that's easy to skip but prevents a surprisingly common source of frozen outdoor plumbing.
Let Vulnerable Faucets Drip
A trickle of water is much less likely to freeze solid than standing water inside a pipe. On the coldest nights, let warm water drip slowly overnight from an indoor faucet connected to a supply line on an exterior wall — a small step that can prevent a much bigger problem.
If a Pipe Has Already Burst
Shut off your main water valve immediately, and if the leak is near an outlet or electrical panel, avoid the area and cut power to that circuit if it's safe to reach from a dry location. Our burst pipe water damage page covers exactly what happens next — tracing how far water traveled, drying the cavity in place where possible, and rebuilding.
A frozen pipe that's already burst keeps flowing until someone stops it.
Call now and talk to a real Edmond technician in under 60 seconds. Free inspection, no call-out fee, and we start tracing the water path the same visit.
Call (405) 347-6460Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature should I keep my thermostat at if I'm leaving town in winter?
Keep the thermostat set no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even while away, and avoid the temptation to turn the heat off entirely to save on energy costs during a cold snap.
Does letting a faucet drip really help prevent a frozen pipe?
Yes. A trickle of moving water is much less likely to freeze than standing water in a pipe, so letting a faucet on an exposed line — especially one on an outside wall — drip slightly during a hard freeze is a simple, effective step.
Which pipes in my home are most likely to freeze?
Pipes running through unheated spaces are highest risk: attics, basements, crawl spaces, and exterior walls. Both hot and cold lines in these areas should be insulated, since either can freeze under the right conditions.