02/01/2026
With a widespread hard freeze happening tonight, here are some things to keep in mind with regards to dripping faucets. The main goal is to keep water moving through your pipes, which makes it harder to freeze. A drip is often sufficient, but if you do a stream, it should be no more than the width of a tip of a pencil. DON'T run every faucet in your house. If you can, choose one that's the farthest from where water enters your house.
Also -- once you and your family are up and moving, it's probably OK to stop the drip, even if temps are below freezing. Flushing toilets, running faucets, washing dishes, washing clothes...all of that day-to-day stuff is typically sufficient to prevent issues.
Most importantly, you need to understand your particular situation. Some homes are more exposed and more vulnerable than others.
Stay warm!
