How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Texas: What Homeowners Should Know

Texas and freezing temperatures aren't exactly the combination most people associate with each other.

Texas is famous for heat.

Summer arrives and suddenly the air conditioner becomes the most important appliance in the house.

But winter can still deliver some surprisingly cold weather, and when temperatures drop sharply, your plumbing can become vulnerable.

Frozen pipes aren't just inconvenient.

They can result in expensive water damage if pipes crack or burst.

Fortunately, some preparation can go a long way.

Why do pipes freeze?

Water expands when it freezes.

When water inside a pipe freezes, it can create significant pressure.

The pipe may eventually crack.

And here's the frustrating part: the pipe doesn't necessarily leak while it's frozen.

Once the ice begins to thaw, water can escape through the damaged section.

That means a homeowner might think:

"We survived the freeze!"

Only to discover a leak when temperatures rise.

Which pipes are most vulnerable?

Not every pipe in your house has the same level of risk.

Pay particular attention to plumbing located in:

• Exterior walls
• Garages
• Attics
• Crawl spaces
• Unheated rooms
• Areas exposed to drafts
• Outdoor locations

Poor insulation increases vulnerability.

So does exposure to cold air.

Start with outdoor plumbing

Before freezing weather arrives, disconnect garden hoses.

Leaving a hose attached can allow water to remain trapped around the faucet and connected plumbing.

If your home has dedicated shutoffs for outdoor faucets, use them appropriately.

Faucet covers can provide additional protection.

They're relatively inexpensive compared with repairing a burst pipe.

Insulate exposed pipes

Pipe insulation can help reduce exposure to freezing temperatures.

You can purchase insulation designed for plumbing at many hardware and home-improvement stores.

Focus on vulnerable sections.

Insulation doesn't make pipes magically immune to freezing, but it can reduce the rate at which they lose heat.

Keep your home heated

This sounds obvious.

But when temperatures drop, maintaining adequate indoor heat matters.

Don't turn the heating off completely simply because you're leaving the house for a short period during freezing conditions.

If you're going away during a cold-weather event, take precautions appropriate to your property.

Open cabinet doors

If pipes run inside cabinets against exterior walls, opening the cabinet doors can allow warmer indoor air to circulate around them.

This is particularly useful for kitchen and bathroom plumbing.

Make sure children and pets can't access anything dangerous inside the cabinets.

What about letting faucets drip?

You've probably heard the advice:

"Leave your faucets dripping."

There's some logic behind maintaining a small amount of water movement in vulnerable plumbing.

However, it isn't a universal solution.

Your plumbing configuration matters.

You also shouldn't assume dripping faucets can compensate for severely inadequate insulation or extreme exposure.

If you're unsure how your home should be prepared, ask a plumber.

Know where your main shutoff is

This is one of the simplest—and most valuable—things you can do.

Find your home's main water shutoff.

Know how to operate it.

Make sure everyone in your household knows where it is.

If a pipe bursts, shutting off the water quickly can dramatically reduce the amount of damage.

You don't want to be searching YouTube for "where is my water shutoff?" while water is pouring through your ceiling.

What should you do if you think a pipe is frozen?

If you suspect a pipe has frozen, don't use an open flame to thaw it.

That's a plumbing problem that can quickly become a fire problem.

If the pipe is accessible, use safe, gradual methods of warming it.

If you're uncertain about the location of the frozen section, if you suspect the pipe has cracked, or if you're uncomfortable dealing with it, call a plumber.

What if the pipe bursts?

Turn off the main water supply.

Then contact a plumber.

Also deal with standing water quickly to reduce secondary damage.

If electrical equipment has been exposed to water, don't put yourself at risk by walking through water near electrical sources.

Safety comes first.

Don't forget after the freeze

Once temperatures rise, inspect vulnerable areas.

Look underneath sinks.

Check garages and exposed plumbing.

Look for:

• Dampness
• Dripping
• Water stains
• Cracked fittings
• Bulging pipes
• Unexpected water usage

A pipe may have been damaged during the freeze without immediately showing an obvious leak.