How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in a Chicago Winter

by | Jun 3, 2026 | Local Insights

When a hard freeze settles over Cook County, the water inside an unprotected pipe can freeze, expand, and split the pipe open. The break often is not discovered until the thaw, when water pours out behind a wall or across a basement floor. A little preparation before the cold sets in is far cheaper than the cleanup. Here is how to keep your pipes from freezing this winter.

Which Pipes Are Most at Risk

  • Pipes along exterior walls with little insulation
  • Pipes in unheated spaces like crawl spaces, garages, and attics
  • Pipes in an unheated or drafty basement
  • Outdoor hose bibs and any line running to an exterior faucet

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Insulate exposed pipes. Foam pipe sleeves on pipes in unheated areas are inexpensive and make a real difference during a cold snap.

Let a faucet drip. On the coldest nights, a slow trickle from a faucet fed by an at-risk pipe keeps water moving, and moving water is far harder to freeze.

Seal drafts. Close gaps where cold air reaches pipes near the foundation, rim joists, and exterior wall penetrations.

Disconnect garden hoses. Drain and disconnect outdoor hoses before the first freeze so water does not back up and freeze in the spigot line.

Keep the heat on. If you travel in winter, never set the thermostat below 55 degrees, and have someone check the house during extended cold.

For broader winter weather preparation, the federal government publishes a helpful checklist on the Ready.gov winter weather page.

What to Do if a Pipe Freezes or Bursts

If you turn on a faucet in a cold snap and only a trickle comes out, you likely have a frozen pipe. Keep the faucet open, and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or space heater, never an open flame. If a pipe has already burst, shut off the main water supply immediately. Our guide on what to do when you have a burst pipe walks through the next steps.

When to Call for Help

A burst pipe is an emergency. Chicago Sewer Experts offers fast emergency plumbing response across Chicago and the western suburbs, and can also handle the drain work that often follows a winter water event. Serving Lyons and Cook County. Call (708) 398-7600.