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Affiliate link placeholder · Home Depot prices as of 2026-10-14 · Amazon prices shown at checkoutJob guides / Whole home / Plumbing / Prevent Frozen Pipes
The Job Guide
Keep pipes from freezing, before the cold snap.
The short answerTo prevent frozen pipes, insulate exposed pipes in unheated spaces (crawlspaces, garages, attics, exterior walls) with foam sleeves, disconnect hoses and cover outdoor faucets, and shut off and drain outdoor lines if you have an interior valve. During a deep freeze, let a faucet drip, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, and keep the heat at 55°F or higher even when you're away. Use a UL-listed heat cable on pipes that freeze repeatedly.
A burst pipe is one of the most expensive surprises a house can deliver. An hour and a few dollars of foam before winter is cheap insurance.
DifficultyEasy
Time1–2 hrsmost homes
DIY cost$8–$70estimate
Hiring a proVaries by areaestimate
DIY range is the Home Depot price of the parts below as of Oct 14, 2026 (foam sleeves and faucet covers; heat cable from Amazon not priced). We didn't find a reliable published pro rate, so none is shown.
5 stepsEvery pick rated about 4.5★ or higher, from hundreds to thousands of reviews.
Photo: Glen Carrie on Unsplash
