Frozen Pipes in a Cincinnati Cold Snap
Updated 2026-10 · Cincinnati, OH
How cold it gets
The National Weather Service normal for a January night in Cincinnati is about 23°F, with daytime highs around 40°F. Normal is not the problem. The problem is the cold snap that takes nights into the single digits or below zero for several days, especially with wind. Search demand for plumbers in Cincinnati peaks in February at nearly twice the usual level, which is what the thaw after those snaps looks like from the outside.
The pipes that freeze
- Supply lines in exterior walls, especially kitchen sinks on outside walls
- Pipes in crawlspaces, enclosed porches and rooms over unheated garages
- Hose spigots left on from inside, with water still in the pipe
- Basement pipes near a rim joist or a drafty window
- Sump discharge lines running across the yard
Thawing one safely
If a tap gives a trickle or nothing on a cold morning, open it and leave it open so melting water has somewhere to go. Open the cabinet doors. Warm the pipe gently from the tap end back toward the frozen section with a hair dryer, a heating pad, or a space heater kept well clear of anything that can burn. Never use a torch or any open flame; old Cincinnati houses have a lot of wood framing close to the pipes. If you cannot reach or find the frozen section, stop and call.
If it splits
Water from a split pipe often appears only as it thaws, sometimes hours later and inside a wall. Close the main shutoff, which in most Cincinnati houses is in the basement on the front wall near the meter, and open the lowest faucet. Turn off power to any area where water is reaching wiring. Photograph the damage for your insurer.
Pipe split, or frozen somewhere you cannot reach? Close the main and call; a local plumbing company can walk you through what to do next.
Before the cold arrives
Shut off and drain outside spigots from the inside valve in autumn, or fit frost-free sillcocks. Insulate pipes in crawlspaces and along rim joists. Seal drafts where pipes pass through outside walls. On the coldest nights, keep the heat steady rather than turning it right down, leave a slow drip on pipes that have frozen before, and open cabinets under exterior-wall sinks.
If you are going away in January, leave the heat on and ask someone to check the house. Many insurers limit cover for freeze damage in an unheated house.
Where to go next
- Emergency plumbing: the first ten minutes
- Sump pumps and frozen discharge lines
- Hiring a plumber in Cincinnati
Common questions
At what temperature do pipes freeze?
Pipes in exposed spots can freeze when outdoor temperatures stay well below freezing for several hours, and the risk climbs sharply in the single digits, with wind, and over several days.
Should I leave the faucet dripping?
On pipes that have frozen before or that run along outside walls, yes on the coldest nights. Moving water is harder to freeze and an open tap relieves pressure.
Is a frozen pipe an emergency?
Not until it splits, but a frozen pipe often has split already and only shows it as it thaws. Watch it closely while it warms, and know where the main shutoff is.
Can PEX pipe freeze?
Yes. PEX tolerates freezing better than copper or galvanized pipe, but it still blocks, and fittings can fail.