It doesn't happen every year. But when a hard freeze hits the Triangle, the calls start coming in fast — and the damage adds up faster. Burst pipes, flooded crawl spaces, water pouring through ceilings. The reason is simple: North Carolina homes aren't built for sustained freezing temperatures, and the construction methods standard across Wake Forest and the broader Triangle leave plumbing dangerously exposed.
If you live in Heritage, Traditions, Holding Village, Bowling Green, or Wakefield Plantation in Wake Forest, your home almost certainly has a crawl space foundation. That's not a flaw — it's standard construction for the region. But it creates a specific vulnerability that homeowners need to understand before the next freeze hits.
Why Crawl Space Construction Is the Norm in NC
Most homes in Wake Forest and across the Triangle are built on crawl space foundations rather than basements or slabs. There are practical reasons for this: the clay-heavy soil in the Piedmont region expands and contracts with moisture, making full basements problematic. Crawl spaces provide access to plumbing and HVAC systems while keeping the structure above grade for moisture management.
The trade-off? Your water supply lines, drain pipes, and sometimes even your water heater sit in an unheated space underneath your house — separated from freezing outside air by nothing more than foundation vents and a vapor barrier.
What Happens When Temps Drop Below 28°F
The conventional wisdom says pipes freeze at 32°F, but that's not quite accurate for homes. Pipes inside a crawl space with some residual heat from the home above typically won't freeze until outdoor temperatures drop to around 28°F and stay there for several hours. Wind chill accelerates the process significantly.
Here's the sequence of events:
- Water in the pipe begins to freeze, starting at the coldest point — usually near an exterior wall or open foundation vent
- Ice expands, creating a blockage in the pipe
- Pressure builds between the ice blockage and a closed faucet
- The pipe ruptures — not at the frozen point, but somewhere between the blockage and the faucet where pressure has nowhere to go
- When the ice thaws, water flows freely through the rupture
This is why many homeowners don't discover a burst pipe until temperatures rise again. The freeze creates the damage; the thaw reveals it.
Pro Tip: The pipes most likely to freeze are those on exterior walls, near foundation vents, and in corners of the crawl space farthest from the center of the home. If you've ever noticed a particular faucet that runs slower in cold weather, that supply line is your highest-risk pipe.
The Specific Risks in Wake Forest Homes
Crawl Space Pipe Exposure
In neighborhoods like Heritage and Traditions, homes built in the 2000s and 2010s typically have PEX water supply lines running through the crawl space. PEX is more freeze-resistant than copper — it can expand slightly before bursting — but it's not freeze-proof. At sustained temperatures below 20°F, PEX will fail just like any other pipe material.
Older homes in the Wake Forest area, particularly those built before 2000, may still have copper supply lines in the crawl space. Copper has zero flexibility when ice expands inside it, making these pipes especially vulnerable.
Hose Bibs and Outdoor Faucets
The exterior hose bib — the outdoor faucet where you connect a garden hose — is the single most common point of freeze damage in Triangle homes. The pipe feeding the hose bib runs through the exterior wall and is often minimally insulated. Many homes in Holding Village and Bowling Green have hose bibs on the north-facing side of the house, where they get the least sun exposure and are most vulnerable to wind-driven cold.
If your hose bib doesn't have a built-in shutoff valve (called a frost-free sillcock), it's a freeze waiting to happen.
Poorly Insulated Spots
Even in well-built homes, certain areas of the crawl space get colder than others:
- Corners where two exterior walls meet
- Areas near open or damaged foundation vents
- Sections where insulation has fallen away from the floor joists above
- Near the crawl space access door, which often has gaps or poor sealing
How to Protect Your Pipes Before a Freeze
Before Cold Weather Arrives
- Disconnect all garden hoses from outdoor faucets. A connected hose traps water in the hose bib and prevents it from draining.
- Close interior shutoff valves to hose bibs if your home has them, then open the exterior faucet to drain residual water.
- Insulate exposed pipes in the crawl space with foam pipe insulation. Pay extra attention to pipes near exterior walls and foundation vents.
- Seal foundation vents with foam vent covers when freezing temperatures are forecast. These are inexpensive and available at any hardware store.
- Ensure your crawl space vapor barrier is intact — a damaged vapor barrier allows more cold air circulation around pipes.
When a Freeze Is Forecast (Below 28°F)
- Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on exterior walls to let heated air reach the pipes.
- Let faucets drip — a slow, steady drip from both hot and cold lines keeps water moving and prevents pressure buildup. Focus on faucets served by pipes that run through exterior walls or the crawl space.
- Keep your thermostat at 55°F or above, even if you're away from home. The cost of heating is far less than the cost of water damage repair.
- If you have a crawl space heater or heat lamp, turn it on before temperatures drop. A single heat source can keep crawl space temperatures above freezing.
When to Call a Pro: If you turn on a faucet during or after a freeze and nothing comes out — or just a trickle — you likely have a frozen pipe. Do NOT use a blowtorch, heat gun, or open flame to thaw it. Call a professional. Improper thawing can cause the pipe to burst right then, and open flames in a crawl space create a fire hazard. We can locate the freeze point and thaw it safely using controlled, low-heat methods.
What to Do If a Pipe Bursts
If you discover a burst pipe or water flowing where it shouldn't be:
- Shut off your main water supply immediately. Every homeowner should know where their main shutoff valve is. In most Wake Forest homes, it's near the front of the crawl space or at the meter box near the street.
- Turn off the water heater to prevent damage from heating an empty tank.
- Open faucets to drain remaining water from the system and reduce pressure.
- Call for emergency plumbing service. Burst pipe repairs need to happen quickly to prevent structural water damage, mold growth, and further pipe deterioration.
- Document the damage with photos for your insurance company. Most homeowners policies cover burst pipe damage, though coverage varies.
NC Freeze Events: Rare but Costly
The Triangle averages only 5–10 nights per winter below 28°F, and many of those are brief overnight dips that don't sustain long enough to freeze pipes. But when an extended freeze event hits — like the multi-day arctic blasts that have become more common in recent years — the damage is disproportionate because so few homes are prepared.
In Wakefield Plantation and across northern Wake County, elevation is slightly higher than in Raleigh proper, which means temperatures can run 2–3 degrees colder on freeze nights. That small difference matters when you're right at the threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what temperature do pipes freeze in NC?
Pipes in crawl spaces typically begin to freeze when outdoor temperatures sustain below 28°F for four or more hours. Wind chill, pipe material, and insulation levels all affect the exact threshold. North-facing pipes and those near foundation vents freeze first.
Should I drip all my faucets during a freeze?
Focus on faucets connected to pipes that run through exterior walls, the crawl space, or unheated spaces. You don't need to drip every faucet — just the ones at highest risk. Both hot and cold lines should drip, as either can freeze.
Does pipe insulation really help?
Yes — foam pipe insulation can raise the effective freeze threshold by 5–10 degrees, buying you critical time during a short freeze event. It's inexpensive and one of the most effective preventive measures for crawl space pipes.
Will my homeowners insurance cover burst pipe damage?
Most policies cover "sudden and accidental" water damage from burst pipes, including repair costs and water damage restoration. However, damage from pipes that froze due to negligence (like leaving a vacant home unheated) may not be covered. Check your policy and keep your thermostat at 55°F minimum.
Frozen pipes in North Carolina are a "when," not an "if." The homes in Wake Forest and across the Triangle are built for our climate — but our climate occasionally throws a curveball. A few hours of preparation before a freeze can save thousands in emergency repairs after one.
