How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Texas Before the First Freeze

Most homes in Arlington and the rest of North Texas are built to handle 100 degree summers, not hard freezes. That is why a single cold night can split a pipe in an attic or an outside wall. The good news is that most frozen pipes are preventable with an afternoon of prep before the first freeze, which in the Dallas-Fort Worth area usually arrives in late November or December.

This guide covers what to do now, what to do the night a freeze is forecast, and what to do if a pipe freezes anyway.

Why pipes freeze in Texas homes

When water freezes it expands. In a pipe, that expansion builds pressure between the ice and the closed faucet, and that pressure is what splits copper or bursts PEX fittings. The leak often does not show up until the ice melts.

Texas homes are especially exposed for a few reasons:

• Pipes in the attic. Many slab-foundation homes run water lines overhead, through an attic that gets as cold as the outdoors.
• Pipes in exterior walls. Kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls are common trouble spots.
• Outdoor plumbing. Hose bibs, sprinkler backflow preventers, and exposed pipes at the water heater or meter have little or no protection.
• Insulation built for heat. Insulation here is designed mainly to keep summer heat out, not to protect plumbing from a hard freeze.

The February 2021 winter storm showed how fast this adds up. Temperatures stayed below freezing for days, millions of Texans lost power and heat, and burst pipes flooded homes across the state. Many cities, including in North Texas, issued boil water notices as water systems lost pressure. Most freezes are much milder than that, but the same weak spots fail first.

Before the first freeze: a fall checklist

Do these once a year, ideally in October or early November.

1. Find and test your main water shutoff. If a pipe bursts, this is the most important thing you can know. In many North Texas homes the city shutoff is inside the meter box near the street and may need a meter key. Some homes also have a shutoff near the house, often by an outdoor hose bib or in the garage. Make sure it turns and that everyone in the house knows where it is.
2. Disconnect garden hoses. A connected hose traps water in the faucet, which can freeze and crack the pipe inside the wall. Drain the hose and store it.
3. Cover outdoor faucets. Insulated foam faucet covers are inexpensive and available at any hardware store.
4. Insulate exposed pipes. Foam pipe sleeves work well on pipes in the attic, garage, crawlspace, and outside walls. Pay attention to pipes near your water heater if it sits in the garage or attic.
5. Protect your sprinkler system. Shut off the irrigation supply valve, drain the system according to its instructions, and insulate the backflow preventer. A cracked backflow preventer is one of the most common freeze repairs in Texas.
6. Seal drafts near pipes. Caulk or foam gaps where pipes pass through exterior walls, and close foundation vents if your home has them.
7. Fix small leaks and drips now. A pipe that is already weak is more likely to fail in a freeze.

When a freeze is in the forecast

When overnight lows are expected to drop into the 20s, or below freezing for several hours, take these steps the evening before:

• Drip faucets on exterior walls. A slow, steady drip keeps water moving and relieves pressure. On single-handle faucets, set the handle to the middle so both hot and cold lines drip. Follow any request from your city to limit dripping.
• Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air can reach the pipes. Move cleaning products out of reach of kids and pets.
• Keep the heat on. Set your thermostat to the same temperature day and night, and do not let it drop below 55°F, even if you are leaving town.
• Leave interior doors open so heat reaches every room, including ones with plumbing on outside walls.
• Keep the garage door closed if water lines or the water heater are in the garage.
• If you lose power for a long time, consider shutting off the main water and opening faucets to drain the lines. This is what many homeowners wished they had done in 2021.

Never use an open flame, or a space heater left unattended, to keep pipes warm.

Signs a pipe is frozen

• You turn on a faucet and get only a trickle or nothing.
• Frost is visible on an exposed pipe.
• A toilet will not refill.
• You notice an odd smell from a drain, or a bulge or crack in a pipe.

What to do if a pipe freezes

1. Keep the faucet open. As the ice melts, running water helps clear the rest.
2. Warm the pipe slowly. Use a hair dryer, an electric heating pad, or warm towels. Start near the faucet and work back toward the frozen section.
3. Never use a torch or open flame. It is a fire hazard and can damage the pipe.
4. Check every faucet. If one pipe froze, others may have too.
5. If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, call a plumber. Frozen pipes inside walls or ceilings are hard to thaw safely on your own.

If a pipe bursts

• Shut off the main water right away.
• Turn off electricity to any area where water is near outlets or fixtures, if you can do so safely.
• Open faucets to drain the remaining water.
• Take photos of the damage for your insurance company.
• Call a licensed plumber to repair the line. Texas requires plumbing for others to be done by a plumber licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

Frequently asked questions

At what temperature do pipes freeze in Texas? Water freezes at 32°F, but pipes in unheated spaces are most at risk once outdoor temperatures drop into the low 20s or below, especially overnight or for several hours in a row. Wind and pipes on exterior walls or in attics raise the risk.

Should I drip my faucets during a Texas freeze? Yes, a slow drip from faucets on exterior walls helps, because moving water is less likely to freeze and an open faucet relieves pressure if ice forms. Drip both hot and cold on a single-handle faucet. If your city asks residents to stop dripping to protect water pressure, follow that request.

Why do Texas homes have so many frozen pipe problems? Many North Texas homes are built on slabs with water lines running through attics and exterior walls, and insulation is designed mainly to keep heat out in summer. Those pipes are not well protected when a hard freeze arrives.

Where is my main water shutoff? In many North Texas homes the city shutoff is in the meter box near the street, and some homes also have a separate shutoff valve near the house, often by the hose bib or in the garage. Find it and test it before the first freeze.

How do I thaw a frozen pipe safely? Open the faucet, then warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer, heating pad, or warm towels, starting near the faucet and working back. Never use an open flame or torch. If you cannot reach the frozen section, or the pipe has split, shut off the water and call a plumber.

Need help with frozen or burst pipes?

Boost Air And Plumbing serves Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding North Texas communities. Call (817) 839-4672 or book online to schedule a visit. Our hours are Monday through Saturday, 8am to 7pm, with after-hours and Sunday emergency appointments available. Learn more about our Arlington plumbing services, or if your water heater is in the garage or attic, see our Arlington water heater replacement guide.