01/24/2026
A drip? A stream? Just how do you prep your pipes for winter weather? Here's our ultimate guide on how and when to drip in anticipation of this weekend's deep freeze.
These instructions should be typical for most homes. Please use this as general guidance.
* Only drip where pipes are along an exterior-facing wall (see below the video link for specific info on hot-cold dripping)
* Keep cabinet doors under sinks open to allow warmer air to circulate
* In some instances, you may wish to wrap your pipes or use insulating covers available at big box or hardware stores.
* Drip at a slow, steady rate or a small stream no wider than a pencil lead or strand of dry spaghetti (about 2-3 mm.) - See instructions in our video below.
* If your house has a basement or crawl space, wrap exposed water pipes to insulate them against freezing.
CHECK OUT THE LINK BELOW FOR VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn7ACycJ-Cc
The faucet we used for the video has dual hot-cold handles. If yours has a single handle, turn on the hot water first until hot water begins to flow, then bring the handle into the middle so both hot and cold flow at the same time. Then, lower the pressure to a small stream no wider than the lead of a pencil or strand of dry spaghetti (the lowest steady stream possible.)
For more information, including tips for outdoor pipe protection, visit okc.gov/utilities.
