To keep pipes from freezing, do three things before the first hard freeze: shut off and drain the outdoor faucets, insulate the pipes and the water meter area in unheated spaces, and seal the cold air leaks around them. Then, during a cold snap, let a faucet trickle overnight and keep the heat on. That's the core of the Philadelphia Water Department's (PWD) cold weather advice, and an October afternoon is enough to do most of it.
It's worth the effort because, in Philadelphia, the pipes are yours. PWD says property owners are responsible for all pipes up to the water main, including the ones under the building and the sidewalk, and that it cannot fix frozen or burst pipes on your property.
This is general information. For code and permit questions, the City's Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I), or your township or borough in the suburbs, has the final word.
When to do it: earlier than you think in the suburbs
The city itself freezes late. According to the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, as reported by the Inquirer, the average first freeze at Philadelphia International Airport comes around November 11. Outlying areas get there much sooner: on average October 21 in Pottstown, October 22 in Millville in South Jersey and October 25 in Doylestown.
So if you live in Bucks or Montgomery County, mid-October is the deadline for outdoor faucets. In the city, aim for the end of October, and don't wait for the first January cold snap to look at the basement.
Where pipes freeze in Philadelphia homes
Pipes freeze where cold air reaches them, not just where the house is coldest on average. In older rowhomes and twins, look at:
- The water meter and the pipe coming in from the street. The service line enters through the foundation, usually into the basement, and the meter and main shutoff valve are normally near that spot. PWD's advice is to keep the meter area above 40°F.
- Pipes along exterior walls, especially under kitchen and bathroom sinks. PWD singles these out.
- Kitchens and baths in rear additions. If yours sits over a crawl space, a porch or an unheated space, the supply lines underneath are exposed on more sides than the rest of the house.
- Basements with broken or drafty windows. PWD specifically asks owners to fix broken windows and cover and caulk windows near meters and pipes, because cold air blowing on a pipe raises the risk of freezing.
- Outdoor faucets (hose bibs). The short section of pipe between the inside shutoff and the faucet is the classic one to split.
- Vacant or rarely used properties, and the rooms of a house you're away from for days at a time.
An October checklist
These steps come from PWD's cold weather tips and its frozen pipes page, in a practical order:
- Find your main shutoff valve and make sure it turns. PWD notes it's usually near the water meter. Tag it, and show everyone in the house where it is. If it's seized or leaks when you turn it, that's a job for a plumber before winter, not during an emergency.
- Shut off the outdoor faucets. Disconnect the garden hose, close the dedicated shutoff valve inside the house, then open the outside faucet to let the remaining water drain out.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas. Foam pipe insulation from a hardware store is the usual DIY fix for exposed runs in the basement or a crawl space. Start with the pipes near the meter and any that run along an outside wall.
- Close up the drafts. Repair broken basement windows, and cover and caulk the windows near the meter and pipes. Look for gaps where pipes, cables or the dryer vent pass through the wall.
- Check the heat. A furnace or boiler that quits on the coldest night is how many pipes freeze. Our furnace and boiler tune-up guide covers what a fall service visit should include.
- Plan for time away. For a vacant property, or if you'll be gone during cold weather, PWD advises draining and winterizing the plumbing. If you're just traveling, leave the heat on; water utilities commonly advise no lower than 55°F, and ask someone to check the house.
During a cold snap
- Let a faucet trickle overnight when temperatures drop below freezing. PWD says it costs only pennies, and moving water is harder to freeze. Pick the faucet farthest from where the water comes in, or the one on the coldest wall.
- Check the water flow before bed and in the morning. PWD says reduced flow from a faucet is the first sign of freezing.
- Open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so room heat reaches the pipes.
- Keep the garage door closed if supply lines run through the garage.
- Don't turn the heat way down at night during an extreme cold stretch. A slightly higher bill is cheaper than a burst pipe.
If a pipe freezes
If you turn on a tap and get a trickle or nothing at all, first ask a neighbor whether they have water. PWD's cold weather roadmap explains the logic: if the whole block is out, it may be a water main break, which you report to PWD at (215) 685-6300. If only you have no water and you see no leak, your pipes may be frozen.
To thaw them, PWD advises:
- Open the faucet so melting water can drip out.
- Warm the area around the pipes and the meter with a space heater or a hair dryer.
- Do not apply direct heat to the pipe itself.
- Once the water is flowing again, check the pipes and the meter for cracks and leaks.
Never use a torch or any open flame. If you can't find the frozen section, can't reach it (inside a wall or ceiling, for example), or the pipe is plastic and you're not sure how it will handle heat, stop and call a plumber.
If a pipe bursts
- Shut off the water at the house-side valve near the meter.
- Turn off electricity to any area where water is reaching outlets, fixtures or appliances, if you can do it safely from a dry spot.
- Call a licensed plumber. PWD does not repair pipes on private property.
- If the meter itself is leaking, call PWD at (215) 685-6300.
- Take photos of the damage before cleanup, for your insurer.
Who pays, and the HELP loan
Inside the house, a burst pipe is the owner's repair. The underground service line is too, but the City has one option worth knowing about. Philadelphia's Homeowner's Emergency Loan Program (HELP) offers zero-interest loans for repairs to water service lines and sewer lines, repaid over 60 months, with a lien placed on the property for the cost of the work. It's generally for residential properties with up to four units whose owners have received a Notice of Defect from PWD (or are replacing a confirmed lead service line), and the water account has to be in good standing. Call (215) 685-4901 to check eligibility.
Permits for the repair
L&I's plumbing permit page says a permit is generally not required for minor repairs with the same material, such as replacing faucets, valves and parts, or stopping leaks. A permit is required for replacing or repairing piping, and pipe repair and a new or replacement water service for a single building are among the jobs that qualify for the simpler EZ permit. A licensed master plumber has to oversee plumbing work that needs a permit. In practice, ask the plumber whether your repair needs one and confirm they'll pull it.
In Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware counties and in South Jersey, rules come from your township or borough, so ask the local code office. For any contractor in Pennsylvania, our guide on how to check a contractor in Philadelphia covers registration and what to put in writing.
When to call a pro
Call a plumber now, before the cold, if:
- the main shutoff valve is stuck, leaks or you can't find it;
- an outdoor faucet doesn't have its own inside shutoff, or still drips after you close it;
- pipes run through a crawl space, an unheated rear addition or an outside wall you can't get to;
- a pipe froze last winter (it will likely freeze again in the same spot unless something changes);
- you own a vacant property or will be away for weeks and need the system drained.
And call right away if a pipe has burst, you can't locate a frozen section, the frozen pipe is inside a wall or ceiling, or there's water near electrical equipment.
When you describe the job, say what kind of house it is, where the meter and shutoff are, which pipes worry you and why, whether anything has frozen before, and add photos of the basement, the meter area and the outdoor faucets. On HomeKept you can post your plumbing project once and get responses from local pros. It's free for homeowners, you can compare up to three estimates, and HomeKept covers Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery counties. A person reviews every pro profile, and license and insurance badges appear only after documents are checked. That isn't a background check, so still do your own checks before you hire.
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