How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in New Jersey Winters

New Jersey does not get Minnesota cold — which is exactly why so many pipes burst here. Homes in Bergen, Morris, Hunterdon, and Sussex counties routinely see overnight lows in the single digits, but plumbing in older NJ housing stock often runs through uninsulated crawl spaces, garages, and exterior walls that were built for milder assumptions.

Water freezes at 32°F, but pipes typically do not fail until sustained temperatures near 20°F. The damage does not come from the ice — it comes from pressure building between the ice plug and a closed faucet, which splits the pipe. You often will not know until it thaws and water starts moving.

The pre-winter checklist

Do this in November:

1. Disconnect and drain every garden hose. A connected hose is the single most common cause of a burst hose bib in NJ.
2. Shut off and drain exterior spigots at the interior valve, then open the outside faucet to let it drain.
3. Insulate pipes in unheated spaces — crawl spaces, garages, attics, and rim joists. Foam sleeves cost a few dollars per length.
4. Seal air leaks where pipes pass through exterior walls, and around sill plates.
5. Service the heating system so a mid-January failure does not take the plumbing with it.
6. Locate your main shutoff and make sure it actually turns. Tag it so anyone in the house can find it.

During a cold snap

• Keep the thermostat at 55°F minimum, even when away.
• Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the supply lines.
• Let a vulnerable faucet drip — moving water resists freezing and relieves pressure.
• Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through it.
• If you are traveling, either shut off the main and drain the system, or have someone check the house daily.

If a pipe freezes

You will see it as no water, or a trickle, at one fixture.

1. Open the faucet the pipe feeds — this gives melting water somewhere to go.
2. Warm the pipe with a hair dryer, heat lamp, or towels soaked in hot water, working from the faucet back toward the frozen section.
3. Never use an open flame or propane torch. This causes house fires every winter.
4. If you cannot locate or reach the frozen section, call a plumber before it thaws on its own.

If a pipe bursts

1. Shut off the main water valve immediately.
2. Shut off electricity to any area where water is near outlets or the panel.
3. Open faucets to drain remaining pressure.
4. Photograph everything before cleanup — your insurer will want it.
5. Call a licensed plumber, then a water restoration company. Standing water becomes a mold problem in 24–48 hours.

Worth the money

• Pipe insulation: $1–$3 per foot, best return on investment in the whole list
• Heat cable for chronically vulnerable runs: $50–$200
• Smart water leak sensors near the water heater, washer, and sump: $25–$60 each
• Automatic shutoff valve: $500–$1,000 installed, and many NJ insurers discount for it

The average burst-pipe insurance claim runs well over $10,000. An afternoon of prep in November is cheap by comparison.

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Want your plumbing winterized before the first hard freeze? Book a free quote with Home Service Bros — serving homeowners across New Jersey.