How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Charlotte's Winter

Charlotte doesn't get the brutal winters you see up north, but we get enough cold snaps to keep plumbers busy every January and February. When temperatures drop below 20°F—which happens 5 to 10 nights most winters—unprotected pipes can freeze. And frozen pipes don't just inconvenience you; they can burst and cause anywhere from $5,000 to $70,000 in water damage.

The thing about Charlotte is that our mild weather makes people complacent. You might go years without a problem, then get caught off guard by a sudden hard freeze. Prevention is cheap. Repairs are not.

Where Your Pipes Are Most Vulnerable

Based on the emergency calls we get every winter across Charlotte, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill, here are the spots that freeze first:

Attics and crawl spaces. These areas see the most temperature swings. A pipe in your attic might be fine at 40°F outside, but when it drops to 15°F overnight with wind, you're in trouble.

Exterior walls. Any pipe running along or through an outside wall is exposed to cold. This is especially true on the north side of your house, which gets the least sun in winter.

Unheated spaces. Garages, basements (if you have one), and any room you keep closed off in winter. If you're not heating it, your pipes are at risk.

Outdoor fixtures. Hose bibs, sprinkler lines, and outdoor faucets. These are the first to freeze because they're directly exposed to the elements.

What to Do Before the Temperature Drops

When you hear a freeze warning (typically 28°F or below), here's your game plan:

Disconnect and drain your garden hoses. Water left in the hose can freeze and back up into your pipes. Close the inside valve to your outdoor faucets, then open the outdoor faucet to drain any remaining water.

Let faucets drip. Moving water is much harder to freeze than still water. Pick faucets on exterior walls and let both hot and cold water run at a slow trickle. You don't need a stream—just enough movement to keep things flowing.

Open cabinet doors under sinks. This lets warm air from your house circulate around the pipes. It makes a bigger difference than you'd think, especially for pipes on outside walls.

Keep your thermostat consistent. Don't drop it below 55°F, even when you're not home. The money you save on heating isn't worth the risk of a burst pipe. And keep the temperature steady day and night—turning it way down at bedtime and cranking it back up in the morning creates temperature swings that stress your pipes.

Long-Term Protection: Insulation

If you want to stop worrying about freeze warnings, invest in pipe insulation. Foam sleeves cost $1 to $3 per linear foot and slip right over your pipes. Focus on the vulnerable spots: attics, crawl spaces, and exterior walls.

For pipes in especially cold areas—like an unheated garage—consider electric heat tape. It's a heating cable that wraps around the pipe and plugs into an outlet. Models with a built-in thermostat turn on automatically when temperatures drop. It's not cheap, but it's cheaper than replacing drywall and dealing with mold after a pipe bursts.

What to Do If a Pipe Freezes

If you turn on a faucet and nothing comes out—or just a trickle—you likely have a frozen pipe. Here's what to do:

Keep the faucet open. As the ice melts, water and steam need somewhere to go. An open faucet relieves pressure and reduces the chance of the pipe bursting.

Apply gentle heat. Use a hair dryer, electric heating pad, or hot towels. Start at the faucet and work toward the frozen section. Never use a propane torch or open flame—you'll damage the pipe or start a fire.

Call a plumber if you can't find or reach the frozen section. If the pipe is behind a wall or under your foundation, you need professional help. Don't wait—frozen pipes can burst as they thaw.

Charlotte-Specific Advice

With only 1-2 hard freeze days per winter in Charlotte, you don't need to go overboard. Focus your protection on the vulnerable areas—outdoor fixtures, attic pipes, and exterior walls. The rest of your house is usually fine.

Watch the forecast in November and late winter. Those are when we tend to get caught off guard by sudden cold snaps. The first freeze usually hits in early November, and we sometimes get a surprise cold blast in late February or March when everyone's already thinking about spring.