Should You Let Your Faucets Drip In Freezing Weather?

If you are living in a cold area, in winter probably you would have heard from people to let the faucet run in the winter season. But should you let your faucets drip in freezing weather? Does a dripping faucet really help to prevent water from freezing in the cold season?

Pipes may burst into the weather due to freezing water inside the pipes. The broken plumbing lines may cost you heavily for repair.

This is true a dripping faucet prevents your plumbing from freezing in the winter but it also wastes lots of water if you don’t do it carefully. So here in this guide, you will find the perfect way to drip the faucet without wasting much water and keep your plumbing lines safe.

Why Should You Let Your Faucets Drip In Freezing Weather?

One common problem I find with many of my customers who are living in cold areas is freezing plumbing lines. These frozen plumbing lines may burst.

A simple solution I always recommend to my customers is to keep their faucets drip in the freezing weather. You should let the water drip from the faucet to prevent the plumbing system of your house from freezing.

For this, you should turn the handle in such a position so that after every 2-3 seconds a water drop comes out from the faucet. It will keep the water running in the plumbing system. Running water takes more time in the freezing than standing water. Slow down the water-dripping process to reduce the water waste.

If you let your faucets drip a little during very cold weather, the moving water helps prevent freezing. The little bit of flow keeps the water inside the pipes from getting completely still and frozen.

What Will Happen If You Don’t Let Faucet Drip In The Extreme Cold Weather?

In extremely cold weather, the water starts freezing inside the plumbing system. When water freezes, it will start expanding. This expansion creates high pressure on the plumbing pipes. In the end, due to high pressure, pipes may burst or crack.

This can lead to water damage, costly repairs, and inconvenience. A burst in the pipe will cost you a high amount to repair.

Should I Let Both Hot and Cold Water Drip?

Dripping both hot and cold water pipes is recommended for the most complete protection against freezing outdoor faucets in extremely cold temperatures.

Hot water rarely freezes. But dripping hot taps keep water moving in pipes that may feed both hot and cold lines. This protects the cold water pipes.

In freezing weather, letting just hot or cold drip won’t work. You should drip both faucets. Dripping both maintains the flow rate of the plumbing system.

If temperatures are moderately cold, dripping just the cold water pipes may be sufficient.

Should I Drip My Faucets In an Apartment?

Some of my customers are living in apartments. In their building, there are many apartments. So, their common question in the winter is whether they should drip their faucets in the apartment or not.

I suggest them it’s usually best to check with their landlord or building manager before dripping faucets. Many apartment buildings have insulation and heating systems designed to prevent freezing, so dripping may not be necessary.

If you do need to drip faucets, here are some tips:

• Dripping just a steady trickle is sufficient. You don’t need to waste a lot of water.
• Dripping both hot and cold water faucets is most effective.
• Keep kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.
• Set your drips to a very slow trickle so it’s not constantly running and don’t waste water.

At What Temperature Do Pipes Freeze?

Pipes are most likely to freeze when the air temperature drops to 32°F (0°C) or below for an extended period of time. Pipes that run against exterior walls or in unheated interior spaces like basements or attics are most prone to freezing.

Plastic pipes, like PVC or CPVC, are more likely to burst if frozen than metal pipes.

How Many Faucets Should You Leave Dripping To Prevent Freezing?

Do you need to keep more than one faucet dripping to prevent freezing pipes? The short answer is maybe.

Running water is less likely to freeze than standing water. So if it’s cold but not freezing yet, one dripping faucet can be enough.

It depends on how your pipes connect. Hot water pipes won’t freeze. So faucets only connected to the hot water heater don’t need dripping.

All cold water faucets could freeze. But if several cold water faucets connect to the same pipe, only the last one needs dripping. The flowing water from the end faucet will prevent the whole pipe from freezing.

Check how your pipes are connected. If all your cold water faucets branch off one main line, dripping the last faucet may protect them all. But if some faucets have separate pipe connections back to the main line, you may need to drip more than one.

Your goal should be to keep water flowing through all parts of your cold water pipes. One dripping faucet may accomplish that in all conditions. But in some pipe systems, several drips are better to ensure water keeps moving everywhere.

How To Save Water When Water Is Dripping From The Faucet?

In winter, people often leave a faucet dripping to avoid freezing pipes. Dripping just one faucet doesn’t waste much water.

But in big houses with many faucets, the wastewater can add up. This impacts the environment and your water bill.

You don’t need to drip every faucet, though. Check how your pipes connect and map the water flow. If several faucets branch off one main line, only drip the last one.

The running water will keep the entire pipeline from freezing. So you only need to drip the furthest faucet from where the pipe starts.

The goal is to keep water moving through all parts of the pipe system. One well-placed drip accomplishes this without wasting water at every faucet.

Some tips to limit waste while preventing freeze-ups:

• Dripping both hot and cold furthest faucets is best.
• Set drips to a slow trickle, not fast running.
• Insulate exposed pipes to avoid dripping at moderate temps.
• Seal drafty areas so pipes don’t get as cold.

With planning, you can drip smart, avoid frozen pipes, and reduce unnecessary water waste.

Is It Better To Cover Outside Faucets or Let Them Drip?

Covering outside faucets can provide more protection than dripping alone. But dripping may still be needed in extremely cold temperatures.

The advantage of covering faucets:

• Insulated covers provide all-around insulation versus just running water.
• Covers protect the entire pipe and valve, reducing the chance of bursts.
• Less water is wasted compared to constantly dripping.
• Covering is reliable if you won’t be home to maintain dripping.

The advantage of dripping:

• Running water is less likely to freeze than stagnant water in a covered pipe.
• Dripping maintains water flow if there are indoor lines branched off the outdoor faucet.

For cold but above freezing temps, covering is usually sufficient. Add dripping if the temperature is below 32°F for long periods. When the outside temperature is extremely cold then covering and dripping together will work perfectly.

Do I Need To Let My Faucets Drip If I Have Insulated Pipes?

If you have well-insulated pipes, you may not need to let your faucets drip to prevent freezing.

Properly insulated pipes are less likely to freeze as they retain heat better. But insulation only slows down freezing – it doesn’t prevent it. In extreme or prolonged cold, freezing can still occur in insulated pipes.

Plastic pipes insulate less than copper and are more prone to bursting if they do freeze.

While insulation reduces dripping needs, it isn’t a guarantee against freezing on its own. For cold-sensitive pipes and in extreme temperatures, dripping even insulated faucets provide added insurance and peace of mind.

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James Lewis

James Lewis is a seasoned plumber and faucet enthusiast who shares his expertise on Faucetsavvy.com. With over 15 years of experience in the plumbing industry, he’s passionate about helping homeowners find the perfect faucet for their needs. He’s also dedicated to empowering DIY enthusiasts with the plumbing knowledge and skills needed to repair and maintain their faucets.