# Why does hot water freeze before cold water does?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-hot-water-freeze-before-cold-water-does/356459>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 12, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-hot-water-freeze-before-cold-water-does/356459 "2006-05-12T01:46:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vpriest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/49beb7/32.png) [@vpriest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vpriest)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-hot-water-freeze-before-cold-water-does/356459/1 "2006-05-12T01:46:27Z")

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I’ve heard this ‘tidbit’ of knowledge for years and I don’t put out hot water during the winter months for my horses but I don’t understand why hot water freezes before cold does.

Vona

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-hot-water-freeze-before-cold-water-does/356459/2 "2006-05-12T01:51:22Z")

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[Which freezes faster, hot water or cold water?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_098b)

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-hot-water-freeze-before-cold-water-does/356459/3 "2006-05-12T01:53:28Z")

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[What freezes faster, hot water or cold water?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_098b.html)

Briefly, hot water generally doesn’t freeze faster than cold water, unless a few specific conditions are met.