Will Pipes Freeze in Fauquier County, VA? 28 nights a Year
Freeze nights in Fauquier County
In a normal year Fauquier County, VA gets 28 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 44% of US counties.
Risk level: Regular. The risk season runs November to March, worst in January.
It depends where the pipe is
| Pipe | Freezes near | Nights a year |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot, open crawlspace | 32°F | 102 nights |
| Bare pipe in garage, attic or outside wall | 20°F | 28 nights |
| Insulated pipe in unheated space | 10°F | 5 nights |
| Inside the heated house | 0°F | under 1 night |
Foam-sleeving a bare pipe in unheated space takes it from 28 nights of risk to 5 nights. 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 11/01, last around 04/09. For 20°F: 12/08 to 03/07.
How cold Fauquier County nights get
Average winter (Dec-Feb) low: 26°F; the coldest month, January, averages 25°F overnight. 7 months normally bring at least one night below 32°F (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec). Nights below 10°F, cold enough to freeze insulated pipe in an unheated space, come in January, February, December: 5 nights a year, and under 1 night below zero.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25°F | 26°F | 33°F | 43°F | 52°F | 61°F | 65°F | 64°F | 57°F | 45°F | 36°F | 28°F |
Fauquier County next to its neighbours
Culpeper County, VA, 31 km south, gets 30 nights below 20°F to Fauquier County's 28 nights. Manassas city, VA, 29 km east, gets 24 nights.
| County | Distance | Below 32°F | Below 20°F | Jan low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fauquier County, VA | - | 102 nights | 28 nights | 25°F |
| Manassas city, VA | 29 km east | 94 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
| Prince William County, VA | 30 km east | 95 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
| Rappahannock County, VA | 31 km west | 107 nights | 28 nights | 24°F |
| Culpeper County, VA | 31 km south | 110 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
| Manassas Park city, VA | 33 km east | 95 nights | 24 nights | 24°F |
| Warren County, VA | 38 km northwest | 106 nights | 30 nights | 24°F |
Fauquier County within VA
Fauquier County ranks 52 of 133 VA counties for nights below 20°F. The most is Highland County, VA at 62 nights, with a 20°F average winter low. The fewest is Norfolk city, VA: 4 nights, winter lows near 35°F. At 771 ft, Fauquier County sits 323 ft above the state's median county elevation of 448 ft.
What to do here
- Insulate every pipe in unheated space before the season starts.
- Heat tape on the runs you cannot insulate well.
- Shut off and drain outdoor spigots for the season.
What insulating actually removes here, and when heat tape is needed: insulate or heat tape?.
Where this comes from
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, blended from 3 nearby stations and adjusted for elevation; closest is Warrenton (3 mi SE), VA, 8 km away (close match). A normal year, not tonight's forecast: check the forecast low for the night itself. Why elevation is part of the blend: how county numbers are made.