Will pipes defrost on their own? How to prepare for — and deal with — the Kansas cold

If you think this December is off to a chilly start in Wichita, you’re not wrong, and now is the time to make sure your home is winterized to withstand the dropping temperatures.

Not only has the final month of the year brought a dusting of snow and freezing temps, it’s also the coldest start to December in the 11 years, Bryan Baerg with the National Weather Service told The Wichita Eagle.

“It’s been definitely a chilly first couple days of December, and it’s going to be even colder [Thursday],” Baerg said.

A chance of flurries returns Thursday, Dec. 4 between noon and 3 p.m., with a high near 33 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NWS forecast. While Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6 have forecast highs in the low to mid-40s, Sunday, Dec. 7 the high drops back to a chilly 35 degrees.

While Baerg said highs in the 50s can return this coming week, Wichita’s coldest few months are upon us, and it’s best to prepare now rather than be stuck with a costly mistake later.

Water pipes can freeze when the outdoor temperature drops to or below 32 degrees. When not thawed, these pipes can burst, which can cost thousands of dollars to fix.

Here’s what you can do now to make sure your Kansas home is ready for winter.

How to prevent freezing pipes in cold Kansas temps

Here are some tips to make sure your pipes stay thawed this winter from American Red Cross:

• Drain swimming pool and sprinkler water.
• Remove, drain and turn off hoses.
• Add insulation to crawl spaces, attics and basements to keep pipes warmer.
• Keep doors to your water supply closed.
• Open the cabinets to help warmer air surround plumbing.
• When there’s colder weather, drip your faucets.
• Don’t change your thermostat.

If you turn on a faucet and it only drips, that could indicate it has frozen. If you suspect a frozen pipe, American Red Cross recommends you keep the faucets open and apply heat to a section of the pipe. You can use an electric heating pad, a hair dryer, a space heater or towels soaked in hot water.

Call a professional plumber if you can’t thaw the pipe or find the source of the freeze.

What’s the weather in Wichita this week?

Here’s the forecast from the NWS:

• Saturday: A high around 47 and a mostly cloudy evening with a low around 25.
• Sunday: A high near 35 and a partly cloudy evening with a low near 20.
• Monday, Dec. 8: Sunny with a high near 46 and a low around 29.
• Tuesday, Dec. 9: Sunny with a high of around 56.

This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.