How Do I Stop My Pipes Freezing in a Green Bay Winter?
Keep the heat at a steady temperature, close off cold drafts in the basement, insulate pipes along outside walls and rim joists, shut off and drain outdoor taps in fall, and open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls during the coldest nights.
Request a plumberHow cold does it get?
Green Bay's January mean is 16.6°F, it has about 19 nights a year below 0°F, and the record is −36°F from 1888. Pipes that are fine in December can freeze in a February cold snap.
Where do pipes freeze?
Along the basement rim joist where cold air leaks in, in outside walls, over garages, in crawl spaces and anywhere a basement window or vent lets wind in.
What should I insulate?
Foam pipe sleeves on exposed lines near outside walls, and seal gaps in the rim joist. Don't trap pipes against a cold wall with insulation on the warm side.
What about outdoor taps?
Close the inside shut-off for each outdoor tap in fall, then open the outside tap to drain it. Frost-free sillcocks still need the hose removed. See winterizing outdoor taps.
What if I'm away?
Keep the heat on, at least in the mid-50s °F. For long trips, shut off the main and drain the lines. Ask someone to check the house in a cold snap.
What if a pipe freezes anyway?
Open the tap, warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer, and keep the main valve within reach in case it has split.
Does heat tape help?
Self-regulating heat cable, installed to the maker's instructions, can protect a pipe that can't be moved or insulated well. It is a fix for a known problem spot, not a whole-house solution.
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