Soft cover for the outdoor faucet
Hometopia
Insulated cloth cover that pulls over the spigot. Fits faucets up to 8.5 x 6.7 inches.
$5.99 at Amazon, checked October 17, 2026 · sold by LiKiU US
Hard Freeze Tonight? What to Put on Your Pipes
Pipes in unheated spaces are at risk when it drops to about 20°F outside, and sometimes warmer. Tonight, drip cold water from faucets on outside walls, open the cabinet doors under sinks, and drain and cover your outdoor faucets. For pipes that freeze every year, add foam sleeves or a heat cable.12
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Is a freeze coming where you live?
Live alerts from the National Weather Service. An alert covers only the counties it lists. For your exact forecast, see weather.gov.
01 / Tonight
What to do before a hard freeze
- Drip cold water from the faucet fed by the pipe most at risk, such as one on an outside wall. A trickle is enough: moving water helps keep a pipe from freezing.2
- Open the cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air reaches the pipes. Move cleaners and chemicals out of children's reach first.2
- Drain and cover outdoor faucets. Unhook and drain garden hoses. Close the inside valve that feeds the outdoor faucet, open the outdoor faucet to drain it, and leave it open. Then put a cover on it. No inside valve? Just cover the faucet.2
- Keep the heat steady. Keep the thermostat at the same setting day and night. If you leave home, set it no lower than 55°F. Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage.2
- Find your main water shut-off, usually where the water line comes into the house or at the meter, so you can turn the water off fast if a pipe bursts.
Why it matters: State Farm says its freeze claims averaged more than $30,000 each from 2024 through June 2025.8
02 / What to buy
What to put on your pipes
Three kinds, from cheapest to most work. Each pick is a best seller in its Amazon category and its listing states its size. The heat cable's listing also names safety lab marks (UL and ETL); check that the box shows one before you plug it in. We found no CPSC recall of heat tape, heat cable, pipe insulation or faucet covers since 2018. Need them tonight? Hardware stores sell faucet covers and foam pipe sleeves.9112
Outdoor faucet covers
For the faucet outside. Drain it first (see step 3 above), then cover it.
Hard foam dome
Frost King
Foam dome that hooks behind the faucet and seals against the wall. Sold by Amazon.com. Pack of 4.
$15.19 at Amazon, checked October 17, 2026
Foam pipe sleeves
For exposed pipes in a crawl space, garage, attic or under a sink on an outside wall. The Red Cross says to insulate both the hot and cold pipes there. Sleeves are sold by pipe size (1/2", 3/4", 1"). Don't put foam over heat cable.
Foam pipe sleeve, 1/2" to 3/4" pipe
Duck Brand
Pre-slit foam with a self-sealing edge. Its listing states R-value 3.6 (higher insulates better). For 1/2" and 3/4" pipe; 6 feet in 1-foot sticks.
$10.84 at Amazon, checked October 17, 2026
Foam pipe sleeve, 1" pipe
CARGEN
For 1-inch lines. Its listing does not state an R-value. For 1" pipe; 6 feet.
$10.99 at Amazon, checked October 17, 2026 · sold by CARGEN
Fiberglass wrap, over heat cable only if its instructions allow
Frost King
Some cable makers say never to cover their cable, and we could not confirm whether HEATIT allows it, so read your cable's instructions first. If covering is allowed, the CPSC says to use non-flammable insulation such as fiberglass, not foam. 3 inches wide, 25 feet.
$7.94 at Amazon, checked October 17, 2026
Heat cable for pipes that freeze every year
Plugs into a GFCI outlet and warms the pipe when it gets cold. Buy the length of the pipe run. What the card says about the cable is the seller's own claim, so read the instructions in the box before you install it.
Heat cable, sold in 3 to 160 feet
HEATIT
Its listing says it is self-regulating, ETL certified end to end with a UL plug, and safe on metal and plastic pipe. Sold from 3 to 160 feet. This listing is 30 feet; pick the length of your pipe run.
$34.99 at Amazon, checked October 17, 2026 · sold by HEATIT
Not picked: the Frost King HC heat cable. It is the top seller, but it is constant-wattage and its listing names no UL, ETL or CSA mark.11
03 / Heat cable safety
Install heat cable safely
Heat cable rules depend on the type of cable, so follow the sheet that comes with yours. Three rules apply to all of them.
- Plug it into a GFCI outlet, the kind with test and reset buttons that cuts power on a fault.4
- Don't cover it with foam. The CPSC says to use non-flammable insulation such as fiberglass, and only if the maker allows it.4
- Check it every fall, and replace uncertified heat tape that is more than 3 years old.4
| Cable type | Can it overlap itself? | Plastic pipe? |
|---|---|---|
| Constant-wattageputs out the same heat everywhere | No. Frost King: lay it flat along the pipe, never coil it around. EasyHeat HB: it must not touch, cross over or overlap itself.56 | Depends on the cable. Frost King: yes. EasyHeat HB: metal only.5 |
| Self-regulatingputs out less heat where it is already warm | Depends on the brand. nVent Raychem says its FrostGuard cable can't overheat even when it overlaps. For any other brand, follow its sheet.7 | Depends on the cable. Both of our picks' listings say yes. |
04 / Questions
Frequently asked
- At what temperature do pipes freeze?
- Water freezes at 32°F, but pipes inside a wall or crawl space usually stay warmer than the air outside. The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) says unprotected pipes start to freeze at about 20°F outside. That figure comes from homes in the South, where pipes are less protected; well-insulated pipes can handle colder weather. 1
- Should I drip hot or cold water?
- The Red Cross says cold, and we follow the Red Cross. State Farm says warm. Both agree on the main point: moving water, even a trickle, helps keep a pipe from freezing. Drip the faucet fed by the pipe most at risk, such as one on an outside wall. 23
- Can heat tape go on PEX or PVC pipe?
- Only if the cable's own instructions say so. Some cables are made for plastic pipe; others are for metal only. The EasyHeat HB cable, for example, says "Use on metal water pipes only." 6
- Can I put foam insulation over heat tape?
- Only if the cable maker says you can. The CPSC says not to cover heat tape with insulation unless the maker allows it, and to use non-flammable insulation such as fiberglass, not foam or vinyl. 4
- Do I need to turn off the water before covering an outdoor faucet?
- Yes, if your outdoor faucet has an inside shut-off valve. The Red Cross says to close the inside valve, open the outdoor faucet to let it drain, and leave it open. Then put the cover on. 2
- What does a burst pipe cost?
- A lot. State Farm says its freeze-related claims averaged more than $30,000 each from 2024 through June 2025, over 20,000 claims in all. 8
- How do I thaw a frozen pipe?
- Open the faucet, then 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. Never use a blowtorch, a kerosene or propane heater, a charcoal stove, or any open flame. If one pipe froze, check your other faucets too. If you can't find the frozen spot, or the pipe may have burst, turn off the main water and call a plumber. 2
05 / Sources
Where this comes from
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