Unless your pipes go through uninsulated exterior walls or mezzanines, there's no need to do so. If your HVAC and home break down. Aaron advises: “Open the faucets just enough to make them drip” and leave them dripping until the outside temperature is constantly above freezing. This is usually when the weather forecast indicates that day and night temperatures will remain above than 32 °F (0 °C).
However, many of us have let our faucets drip every winter without stopping to wonder if it really works or if it's one of those ancient wisdoms that was never quite true in the first place. The good news is that yes, letting the faucet drip can help prevent pipes from breaking. But like everything in life, it's a little more complicated than that.
