How do you keep pipes from freezing in Springfield, MA, and what do you do if one freezes or bursts?

By Luis Sierra, 413 Home Pros · Updated 2026-10-30 · Sources linked inline

Short answer: Keep the heat at 55°F or higher everywhere, including the basement; insulate pipes and the water meter in cold, drafty spots; disconnect hoses and shut off and drain outdoor faucets from inside; and in extreme cold open sink cabinets and let a pencil-thin stream of cold water run from faucets on pipes that have frozen before. Never thaw a pipe with a torch or open flame; use a hair dryer on low and be ready at the main shutoff in case it leaks. In Springfield, protecting the service pipe and meter is the owner's job, and the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (24/7 line 413-310-3501) charges for a frozen meter. Burst-pipe repairs need a licensed plumber.

Why pipes freeze, and where

Water expands as it freezes, and the American Red Cross notes that no pipe is strong enough to hold back that pressure. The pipes that freeze most often are outdoor hose bibs and sprinkler lines, supply pipes in unheated basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages and kitchen cabinets, and pipes on exterior walls with little insulation. In many older Springfield-area homes, that also means the water meter and the service pipe where it comes through the foundation.

Before the first hard freeze

Find the main shutoff valve and make sure everyone at home knows where it is. The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (SWSC) says it may be near the water heater, the washing machine or where the service pipe enters from the street. Keep a plumber's number handy.
Outdoor faucets: disconnect hoses, shut off outdoor faucets from inside the basement and drain them. The Red Cross adds: leave the outside bib open so leftover water can expand without breaking the pipe, and drain sprinkler lines per the installer's directions (no antifreeze unless directed).
Insulate pipes in cold, drafty places, both hot and cold lines, with foam pipe sleeves or UL-listed heat tape or heat cable (Red Cross). SWSC says to insulate the water meter and pipes in unheated garages, basements and crawl spaces, and to fix broken windows, doors and walls near pipes.
Keep the meter area open, warm and dry. SWSC says this is the customer's responsibility (SWSC FAQ).

During a cold snap

Keep heat at 55°F minimum, including the basement (SWSC), and keep the thermostat at the same setting day and night (Red Cross). Avoid drafts where the meter and exposed pipes are.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors so heat reaches the pipes, and move cleaners out of children's reach.
Let a pencil-lead-thin stream of cold water run from faucets on pipes that run through unheated spaces or that have frozen before (SWSC).
Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage.
Going away? Leave the heat on at no lower than 55°F (Red Cross). SWSC can shut off water service for a long absence (call 413-310-3501); it lists a $75 turn-off fee and a $75 turn-on fee.

State emergency officials give the same advice in Mass.gov extreme cold safety tips, including wrapping pipes and letting a trickle run.

If a pipe freezes

Suspect a freeze if a faucet gives only a trickle. Check the others; if one pipe froze, others may too (Red Cross).
Keep the faucet open so melting water can flow.
Apply gentle heat: a hair dryer on low, waved back and forth (SWSC), an electric heating pad, or towels soaked in hot water (Mass.gov). A space heater only if kept away from anything flammable.
Never use a torch or open flame, and no kerosene or propane heaters or charcoal stoves (SWSC, Red Cross, Mass.gov).
Be ready at the main shutoff. SWSC warns the pipe may already be broken and start leaking as it thaws.
If you can't find or reach the frozen section, or can't thaw it, call a licensed plumber. SWSC customers can call Field Customer Service 24/7 at 413-310-3501 about a frozen service or meter.

If a pipe bursts

Shut off the water at the main valve, and turn off electricity to wet areas only if you can do it safely.
Call a licensed plumber. Under the Mass.gov plumbers and gas fitters consumer fact sheet, only a licensed master or journeyman plumber with a permit from the local plumbing inspector may replace or repair piping; only minor repairs like a leaky faucet or clogged drain are exempt. In Springfield, permits come from the Department of Code Enforcement, Building Division, 70 Tapley St (see our water heater guide for details).
Photograph the damage and call your insurer. The Massachusetts Division of Insurance (Jan. 21, 2026) says most policies cover sudden and accidental burst-pipe water damage only if the home was properly heated and not left unoccupied, and that 48.6% of Massachusetts homeowners claims in 2024 were for non-flood water and freezing losses. DOI consumer questions: 617-521-7794.

Who is responsible for what in Springfield

Item	Owned and protected by	If it freezes
Water main, curb valve, service connection in the street	SWSC	SWSC
Water meter	Owned by SWSC; owner must keep it from freezing	SWSC replaces it and charges a meter replacement fee
Service pipe from the street connection to the meter, and all pipes after the meter	Property owner	SWSC will try to thaw a frozen service at the customer's expense; repairs are the owner's cost

Source: SWSC FAQ and SWSC frozen pipe tips, checked 2026-10-30. Other towns have their own water departments, so check your water bill for who to call.

Renters: the landlord's heat obligation

The state sanitary code, 105 CMR 410.180 (amended effective May 12, 2023), requires the owner to heat every habitable room and bathroom from September 15 through May 31 to at least 68°F from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and at least 64°F from 11:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. A local board of health may end the season no earlier than May 15 or start it no later than September 30. The Mass.gov law library page on winter heating (checked 2026-10-30) adds that portable space heaters don't meet the requirement, that failure to provide heat is a condition deemed to endanger health and safety, and that a tenant can ask the local board of health or code enforcement office to inspect.

Find local plumbers: best plumbers in Springfield, MA. We list only businesses we could check on their own websites; see how we verify and how to check a plumber's license. Related: winter home checklist · ice dams.

FAQ

What temperature should I keep my house at so pipes don't freeze?

The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission says to keep heat at 55 degrees minimum, including in the basement. The American Red Cross also says not to set the heat below 55°F if you go away in cold weather, and to keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night during a cold snap.

Should I let my faucets drip in Springfield?

During extreme cold, the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission says some customers run cold water constantly at about the size of a pencil lead, which may help if your service has a history of freezing. Its FAQ suggests a slow trickle during prolonged temperatures below 32 degrees for faucets on pipes that run through unheated spaces.

How do I thaw a frozen pipe safely?

Keep the faucet open, then warm the frozen section with a hair dryer on low, an electric heating pad or towels soaked in hot water, per Mass.gov and the American Red Cross. Never use a torch, kerosene or propane heater or any open flame. The pipe may already be cracked and can start leaking as it thaws, so be ready to close the main shutoff. If you can't find or reach the frozen spot, call a licensed plumber.

Who pays if my water meter or service pipe freezes in Springfield?

The owner. The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission says protecting the service pipe and meter from freezing is the property owner's responsibility; if the meter freezes the Commission replaces it and charges a meter replacement fee, and if the service pipe freezes it will try to thaw it at the customer's expense. Repairs to pipes damaged by freezing are also the customer's cost.

Does homeowners insurance cover a burst pipe in Massachusetts?

Often, but with conditions. The Massachusetts Division of Insurance says most homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage from a burst pipe only if the home was properly heated and not left unoccupied. It reported that in 2024, 48.6% of Massachusetts homeowners insurance claims were for non-flood water and freezing-related losses. Check your own policy with your agent.

My apartment is cold and the pipes keep freezing. What does the landlord have to do?

Under the state sanitary code (105 CMR 410.180), the owner must provide heat from September 15 through May 31 so every habitable room and bathroom is at least 68°F from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and at least 64°F overnight. A local board of health can shift the season slightly. If heat isn't provided, contact your city or town's code enforcement or board of health.

This guide is general information, not professional, legal or tax advice. Figures change; check the linked sources. Found an error? Email info@413homepros.com.

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