The short answer
Keep heat in the house, protect pipes in cold spaces, shut off and drain outdoor faucets, and on the coldest nights let faucets on outside walls drip and open the cabinets under them. If you'll be away, keep the thermostat no lower than 55°F, as the American Red Cross recommends. If a pipe freezes, thaw it gently and never with an open flame.
On this page
Why Westfield pipes freeze
Westfield's 1981–2010 climate normals at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport show an average January low of 12.9°F and an average January high of 32.9°F. That means long stretches when uninsulated pipes in cold spaces can freeze day and night, not just overnight.
Where pipes freeze first
- exterior walls, especially kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls
- unheated basements, crawl spaces and attics
- garages and porches
- outdoor faucets and irrigation lines
- vacant units, seasonal homes and rooms closed off to save heat
Before winter
- Disconnect garden hoses, shut off the indoor valve to each outdoor faucet and drain it.
- Insulate exposed pipes in unheated spaces with foam sleeves.
- Seal drafts near pipes where cold air comes in, such as rim joists and sill plates.
- Find your main water shut-off and make sure it turns.
During a cold snap
- Keep the thermostat steady day and night.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
- Let a faucet on an outside wall drip. Moving water is less likely to freeze, and an open faucet relieves pressure.
- Keep garage doors closed if water lines run through the garage.
If you'll be away
Keep the heat on, with the thermostat no lower than 55°F, and ask someone to check the house during cold spells. For long absences or seasonal homes, a plumber can shut off and drain the system. Some insurance policies limit freezing damage if a home is left without heat, so it's worth checking yours.
Signs a pipe has frozen
- a faucet gives a trickle or nothing on a cold morning
- frost on an exposed pipe, or a bulge in it
- a toilet that won't refill
- an odd smell from a drain, as air can't move normally through frozen lines
If a pipe freezes
- Open the faucet it feeds, so water can flow as it melts.
- Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, heating pad or warm towels, working from the faucet back toward the frozen section.
- Never use an open flame or a torch.
- If you can't find or reach the frozen section, or nothing thaws, call a plumber.
- If the pipe has split, shut off the main valve right away. See burst pipe: the first 30 minutes and burst pipe water damage.
For local help with any water damage, see our page on water damage restoration in Westfield, MA.
Sources
- Westfield, Massachusetts (Wikipedia: 2020 Census population, geography, Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport climate normals, 1981–2010)
Frequently asked questions
At what temperature do pipes freeze?
It depends on insulation, wind and how long the cold lasts. Pipes in unheated spaces are at risk whenever outdoor temperatures stay well below freezing, which is common in a Westfield January.
Should I let my faucets drip in winter?
On the coldest nights, a slow drip from faucets on outside walls helps keep water moving and relieves pressure if ice forms.
What temperature should I keep my house when I'm away in winter?
No lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, as the American Red Cross recommends, and have someone check the house during cold spells.