Does TikTok's Water Bottle Hack For Preventing Frozen Pipes Actually Work?

Some people love to be out in the snow, while others would rather stay cozy indoors. Whatever your preference in the winter, the one thing you'll definitely want to avoid is frozen pipes. There are plenty of useful tips to help prevent them from freezing, and you can never have too many good ideas. Over on TikTok, a guy from chilly Chicago who goes by @brokerbob recommends an interesting water bottle hack. It's easy and takes just minutes to set up, but does it actually work?

The idea is that you place a small bottle of water (maybe 16 ounces) about 5 to 10 feet from your plumbing pipes, sink, or faucet. If the liquid starts to freeze, you know the nearby pipes are at risk and need some form of protection. In this case, @brokerbob suggests turning up the heating or leaving a cold water tap running just a little. We know this second idea works because it's one of several tips recommended by the American Red Cross. Unfortunately, the water bottle hack may not entirely live up to the hype.

The biggest problem with this hack is the suggestion that it prevents pipes from freezing. It does not. It only works as an early warning system. How well it does that is also open to debate. If the bottle is placed near a window, for example, and there are pipes 10 feet away on an inside wall, the temperature within the space can vary greatly. It's also important to check the bottle regularly. Experts say water in pipes can begin freezing in as little as 6 hours, but it might also take several days. So for the water bottle hack to have any value, you need to be vigilant. For many people, that may not be convenient.

We shouldn't be too negative or dismissive. This water bottle hack could be useful if you have utility pipes, for example, that are prone to freezing, and you haven't had the chance to properly protect them yet. If it's monitored regularly, the bottle can alert you to a potential problem. However, much like the popular aluminum foil hack used to prepare pipes for winter, you should never rely on it as the sole safety measure.

Though everyone loves tricks and hacks that make life easier, sometimes well-meaning advice may not be practical. @brokerbob suggests turning up the heat if ice crystals start forming inside the bottle, but if it's an area of the house at risk of freezing — where does that warmth come from? Moving in a space heater could work, but experts warn they should never be left unattended. A better and more permanent solution would be insulation. It's effective and can be very affordable even when done by a professional contractor. In fact, preventing heat loss could even save money in the long run.

The damage caused by frozen pipes can cost thousands of dollars to fix and may not be covered by homeowners insurance. So when you're looking at ways to prevent pipes freezing, we strongly recommend you turn to the advice of experts. Don't forget the outside of your home, either — always make sure to drain your hoses. Faucet covers are a cheap way to protect those connections and can be purchased on Amazon.

Preparing for winter is a much better plan than reacting to it, but sometimes we get caught out. Maybe your home was remodeled recently, leaving new pipework vulnerable to freezing. Maybe you just moved in and insulation is one of those jobs that didn't get done yet. The TikTok water bottle hack can certainly help — just make sure to find a safer, permanent solution as soon as possible.