Written on: October 27, 2025

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Boiler Trouble

Cold Climate Tips for Protecting Your System and Home

When winter temperatures plummet, both your boiler and your home’s water pipes can be at risk of freezing. While boilers are generally designed to withstand the cold—thanks to their insulated components and high operating temperatures—issues can still arise, especially with exposed feedwater lines.

Your water pipes, on the other hand, are far more vulnerable. Even a brief cold snap can cause pipes in poorly insulated or unheated areas to freeze and burst, leading to costly water damage and repairs.

To help you stay warm and worry-free this winter, here are some simple yet effective ways to protect your plumbing and heating systems.

How to Prevent Your Water Pipes from Freezing

• Insulate exposed pipes. Wrap any exposed central heating pipes—especially those running through basements, crawl spaces, or garages—with waterproof pipe lagging or foam insulation. It’s a quick, inexpensive fix that can prevent a major headache later.
• Leave your heat on low. If you’re away or asleep, don’t switch your heating off completely. Keeping your thermostat set to at least 60°F ensures enough warm air circulates through your home to prevent freezing.
• Keep air moving. Open interior doors to allow warm air to circulate freely throughout your home, helping to cut cold pockets that can lead to frozen pipes.
• Seal drafts. Check where pipes enter or exit your home—such as around walls, floors, or cabinets—and seal any gaps with caulk or expanding foam to block cold air from sneaking in.

If You’re Leaving Home for Winter Travel

• Keep your heat running. Don’t shut your system off. Set your thermostat to no lower than 60°F (or slightly higher during extreme cold) to keep a steady temperature.
• Install a Wi-Fi smart thermostat. This simple upgrade lets you watch and control your home’s temperature remotely—and receive alerts if it drops too low.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors. This helps warm air reach uninsulated pipes under sinks.
• Close and lock all windows and doors. Make sure they’re sealed tightly, and close shutters if you have them to help insulate your home.
• Shut off the main water valve. Doing so minimizes potential water damage if a pipe bursts while you’re away.
• Unplug unused appliances. Not only does this protect them from power surges after outages, but it also saves on standby (“vampire”) electricity usage.
• Close your fireplace flue. This keeps out moisture, snow, and even small animals—while preventing warm air from escaping.
• Arrange for regular home checks. Ask a friend or neighbor to stop by periodically. They can alert you and give us access if your heat fails.
• Notify us. If you’re a Westmore Fuel automatic delivery customer, let us know you’ll be away. We can adjust your delivery schedule, so you don’t receive heating oil when you don’t need it.

If Your Pipes Freeze While You’re Home

• Leave the affected faucet slightly open to relieve pressure as the pipe thaws.
• Use a space heater or hair dryer to warm the frozen section gently—never use an open flame.
• Keep the area as warm as possible or use thermostatically controlled heat tape to prevent re-freezing.
• If you see any signs of leaking or bursting, call a plumber at once.

If You Lose Your Heat

1. Make sure you have heating oil in your storage tank.
2. Verify that your emergency switch for your boiler is in the “on” position.
3. Check for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
4. Ensure your thermostat is set to “heat” and above room temperature—don’t forget to check the batteries.
5. If your burner has shut off, you can press the reset button once only. If the system shuts off again, call for service right away—pressing the reset button repeatedly can cause a costly flooding of your system with oil.

Heating Oil Service in Stamford, CT, and Beyond

At Westmore Fuel, we’ve been keeping homes warm and comfortable since 1938. Our team is proud to serve customers throughout Stamford, CT, and surrounding communities in Connecticut and New York with reliable heating oil deliveries, expert service, and total peace of mind during the coldest months of the year.

Whether you need emergency help or advice on preventing winter freeze-ups, we’re here to help. Contact us today to become a customer or schedule your next service visit.