How to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing in Harford County

To keep your pipes from freezing, do four things before the first hard freeze: unhook your garden hoses, insulate pipes in cold spots, keep your heat at 55 degrees or higher, and on the coldest nights let a cold-water faucet drip and open the cabinet doors under your sinks. If a pipe does freeze, warm it slowly with a hair dryer or heating pad. Never use an open flame. If a county water main or sewer line breaks, call the Harford County Water and Sewer emergency line at 410-612-1612.

A few simple steps now can help you avoid a burst pipe.

How do I stop my pipes from freezing?

These steps come from the American Red Cross and the Maryland Insurance Administration:

1. Unhook garden hoses before freezing weather starts.
2. Insulate pipes in attics, crawl spaces and along outside walls. Use pipe insulation made for the job.
3. Seal cracks and gaps on the outside of your house. If you can see daylight around a door or window, it needs weatherstripping.
4. Cover vented crawl spaces for the winter.
5. Keep garage doors shut if water lines run through your garage.

What should I do on the coldest nights?

• Let cold water drip from faucets that run along outside walls. Running water through the pipe, even at a trickle, helps prevent freezing.
• Open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air gets to the pipes. Move cleaners up out of kids' reach first.
• Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. Skip the overnight setback when it's frigid.

What temperature should I leave my house at if I travel?

Leave the heat on at no lower than 55 degrees, per the Red Cross. This matters for insurance too. The Maryland Insurance Administration says policies often require you to keep a minimum temperature or shut off the water if the home is empty.

How do I know if a pipe is frozen?

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Per the Red Cross, pipes freeze most often in unheated spots like basements, crawl spaces, attics and garages, and along outside walls with little insulation.

How do I thaw a frozen pipe safely?

The Red Cross says:

1. Keep the faucet open. As the ice melts, water will start to flow.
2. Warm the frozen spot with a heating pad, a hair dryer, a space heater kept away from anything that can burn, or towels soaked in hot water.
3. Never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, or any open flame.
4. Keep heating until you have full water pressure.
5. Check every other faucet. If one pipe froze, others might too.

Can't find the frozen spot or can't thaw it? Call a licensed plumber.

Will my insurance pay for a burst pipe?

It might. The Maryland Insurance Administration says many homeowner's policies cover "sudden and accidental" water damage from plumbing, if you took reasonable steps to keep pipes from freezing. If the insurer decides you didn't, it may not pay. Call your agent and ask what your policy covers and what your deductible is.

Who do I call in Harford County for a water emergency?

If you're on county water or sewer and a main breaks or sewage backs up, call the county's emergency line at 410-612-1612, per Harford County Water and Sewer.

A pipe inside your home is your job, not the county's. Shut off your main water valve and call a plumber. Find your main shutoff valve now so you can reach it fast.

Selling this winter?

Buyers and inspectors look for water damage. A dry, warm house shows better. See my winter home maintenance guide and my list of what to do before selling your home.

FAQ

How do I keep my pipes from freezing in Harford County?

Unhook garden hoses, insulate pipes in cold spots, seal drafts, keep your heat at 55 degrees or higher, and on the coldest nights let a cold-water faucet drip and open the cabinets under your sinks.

Should I let my faucets drip when it's freezing?

Yes. A slight drip from faucets on outside walls keeps water moving, which helps stop pipes from freezing.

How do I thaw a frozen pipe?

Keep the faucet open and warm the pipe with a heating pad, hair dryer, space heater or hot towels. Never use an open flame.

What temperature should I leave my house at when I travel in winter?

The Red Cross says no lower than 55 degrees.

Who do I call for a water main break in Harford County?

Call Harford County Water and Sewer's emergency line at 410-612-1612.

About the author: Josh Tessier is a Harford County REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty, based in Bel Air. He has been licensed in real estate since 2011, and the Lee Tessier Team has sold 5,900+ homes. He lives in Harford County and is raising his family here. Call or text (443) 617-2099.

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Watch more on my YouTube channel: Josh Talks Harford. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

Header photo: “Eingefrorenes Wasserrohr, 2026-02-09” by Nylki, CC0 public domain (license), via Wikimedia Commons. Illustrative frozen-water-pipe photo; location is not stated by the source. Cropped, with text added.

Sources

• American Red Cross, Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes
• Maryland Insurance Administration, Protect Your Pipes (prevention tips from IBHS, insurance coverage)
• Harford County, Division of Water and Sewer (emergency line 410-612-1612)
• Josh Tessier, about