Will Pipes Freeze in Aiken County, SC? 6 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Aiken County
In a normal year Aiken County, SC gets 6 nights at or below 20°F, the point where bare pipes in a garage, attic or outside wall start to freeze. That is more than 19% of US counties.
Risk level: Occasional. The risk season runs December to February, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 48 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 6 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | under 1 night |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | none |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 6 nights of risk to under 1 night. A 12 ft heat-tape kit runs $17 to $37; an average burst-pipe repair is about $500.
Month by month
Nights at or below 20°F in a normal year.
First 32°F night is usually around 11/14, last around 03/19. For 20°F: 01/03 to 01/31.
How cold Aiken County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 35°F; the coldest month, January, averages 33°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 36°F | 42°F | 50°F | 59°F | 68°F | 71°F | 70°F | 64°F | 52°F | 41°F | 36°F |
Aiken County next to its neighbours
Lexington County, SC, 51 km northeast, gets 8 nights below 20°F to Aiken County's 6 nights. Barnwell County, SC, 37 km southeast, gets 5 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken County, SC | - | 48 nights | 6 nights | 33°F |
| Barnwell County, SC | 37 km southeast | 46 nights | 5 nights | 35°F |
| Edgefield County, SC | 40 km northwest | 44 nights | 5 nights | 34°F |
| Richmond County, GA | 46 km southwest | 37 nights | 3 nights | 37°F |
| Lexington County, SC | 51 km northeast | 54 nights | 8 nights | 34°F |
| Saluda County, SC | 51 km north | 67 nights | 7 nights | 32°F |
| Columbia County, GA | 57 km west | 60 nights | 6 nights | 34°F |
Aiken County within SC
Aiken County ranks 22 of 46 SC counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Cherokee County, SC at 18 nights, with a 28°F average winter low. The fewest is Charleston County, SC: under 1 night, winter lows near 45°F. At 482 ft, Aiken County sits 222 ft above the state's median county elevation of 260 ft.
What to do here
- Keep a night-of routine: drip, open cabinets, keep the heat at 55F or above.
- Foam-sleeve any pipe in the garage or crawlspace once; it is cheap and lasts years.
Whether foam sleeves are enough here: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Aiken (2 mi E), SC, 6 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. What a "fair" or "distant" station match means is in the method guide.