Keep the heat on and a thin stream of cold water running on the coldest nights. If a pipe freezes, shut off your main water valve, open the faucet on that line and warm the area gently. Never use an open flame.
Indianapolis winters are cold enough to freeze an exposed pipe more often than you’d think. The National Weather Service’s normal January low at Indianapolis International Airport is about 21°F, and every few winters a subzero cold snap pushes pipes past their limit. A burst pipe can do real damage in minutes, so a little prep now goes a long way.
Where pipes freeze first
- Pipes along exterior walls, especially under kitchen and bathroom sinks
- Crawl spaces and unheated basements
- Garages, particularly if a water line runs through one
- Outdoor spigots and hose bibs
Before a cold snap
- Find your main shut-off valve. Citizens Energy Group notes it’s often in the garage, basement or a utility closet, or where the water line enters the house. Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.
- Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain outdoor spigots if they have an inside valve.
- Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm room air reaches the pipes.
- Leave a thin stream of cold water running from faucets on vulnerable lines when it’s below freezing.
- Keep the thermostat steady, day and night, even if you’re away.
- If your water meter is in a pit outside, make sure the lid is on tight. If it’s indoors, keep that area heated.
Signs a pipe is frozen
- A faucet won’t run, or only trickles
- A toilet won’t refill after you flush
- A pipe looks frosty or bulges
If a pipe freezes
- Turn off the water at your main shut-off valve.
- Open the faucet on the frozen line to relieve pressure.
- Warm the area gently: raise the room temperature, wrap the pipe in warm towels, or use a space heater in the room with safe clearance.
- Never use a torch or open flame on a pipe.
When to call a plumber
Call a licensed plumber if a pipe is bulging or split, if you can’t find where the freeze is, or if you see water in a wall, ceiling or floor. Leave the main valve off until the line is repaired.
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Sources: Citizens Energy Group: Prepare your home for frigid temperatures; National Weather Service Indianapolis: climate normals. Checked November 2026.
