What should I do before freezing weather to protect exposed household plumbing?

Start by finding the plumbing that may be most exposed, then choose precautions that fit the location and equipment. The American Red Cross lists outdoor hose connections and pipes in unheated basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, cabinets, and along poorly insulated exterior walls as places to check. [S1]

Walk through your home and note what you can see; do not dismantle fixtures or guess at hidden pipe routes. Make a short list by location, such as “garage: pipe beside exterior wall” or “kitchen: pipes inside cabinet.” Check relevant product instructions and, where needed, ask the installer or a licensed plumber what applies.

Use three columns: location, what I observed, and next step. Separate straightforward tasks from questions that need an installer, manufacturer, or plumber. For example:

1. Back patio — garden hose still connected — disconnect and drain the outdoor hose.
2. Garage — visible pipe in an unheated area — check whether suitable pipe insulation is appropriate and follow its product directions.
3. Sink cabinet — pipes are inside the cabinet — plan to open the cabinet during cold weather.
4. Yard supply — pool or sprinkler line — confirm the manufacturer’s or installer’s instructions before draining it.

The Red Cross recommends draining outdoor hoses and applicable pool or sprinkler supply lines according to manufacturer or installer directions, and insulating exposed pipes. [S1] That guidance does not identify the right product or procedure for every home, so treat those as items to verify rather than universal instructions.

Keep it tied to where pipes actually are. If a garage contains pipes, keep its doors closed in cold weather. Open sink cabinets during cold weather where pipes are inside, and maintain indoor heat. These are Red Cross prevention suggestions; adapt them to your home and local conditions. [S1]

A useful reminder is “doors, cabinets, heat”: close the garage door where there are pipes, open the relevant sink cabinet, and maintain indoor heat. Add a note to your checklist that says which garage or cabinet you mean, so nobody has to guess. The source does not specify a temperature setting or guarantee that these steps will prevent freezing in every home.

Copy this and replace each bracket with your own observation or a question to verify:

Cold-weather plumbing check

1. Outdoor hose connections: [hose location] — [disconnect and drain / ask for help].
2. Exposed pipes: [room or area] — [check suitable insulation and its product directions / ask a professional].
3. Garage with pipes: [location] — [keep door closed during cold weather].
4. Sink cabinets with pipes: [room] — [open during cold weather].
5. Pool or sprinkler supply lines, if applicable: [system] — [confirm manufacturer or installer directions before draining].
6. Indoor heat: [household plan] — [maintain indoor heat].
7. Unanswered questions: [pipe location, product choice, or system-specific direction] — [contact manufacturer, installer, or licensed plumber].

This is an organizing aid, not a home-specific inspection. The Red Cross guidance recommends adapting precautions to the home, local conditions, and product instructions. [S1]

Do not use an open flame to thaw a pipe. The Red Cross warns against open-flame devices and says inaccessible or unthawable frozen sections warrant a licensed plumber. [S1] If you find a frozen section, avoid improvising a thawing method; contact a licensed plumber when the location is inaccessible or you cannot thaw it. The supplied guidance does not establish that a particular method is appropriate for every pipe or home.

Use the list as a prompt, not a substitute for local or product-specific direction. Mark each item “applies,” “does not apply,” or “verify.” Ask the installer or manufacturer about equipment-specific directions, especially before draining pool or sprinkler lines. The Red Cross advises against putting antifreeze in those lines unless directed. [S1]

Before cold weather arrives, finish the applicable steps you understand, and write down unresolved questions with the system location and product information. The cited guidance offers general prevention suggestions; it does not establish local requirements, inspect your home, or determine which measures are sufficient for your particular plumbing.