Emergency Answer
To prevent frozen pipes, keep your home above 55F, insulate pipes in unheated spaces, let a faucet drip during hard freezes, and open cabinet doors so warm air reaches pipes under sinks. Disconnect outdoor hoses and seal drafts near pipes in the garage, crawl space, and exterior walls where cold air reaches them.
A slow drip works because moving water is much harder to freeze and it relieves the pressure that actually bursts a pipe. During a hard Kansas City freeze, a pencil-thin stream from the faucet farthest from your main is cheap insurance.
The other half is stopping cold air from reaching pipes. Foam pipe sleeves, sealing gaps where lines pass through exterior walls, and keeping the garage door closed all keep vulnerable runs above freezing.
Water damage in the Kansas City metro? Call (913) 213-3686 for a live 24/7 responder, or learn more about 24/7 emergency restoration.