How to Prevent Frozen and Burst Pipes in Texas

Texas homes are built for heat, not cold. Pipes are often routed through attics, exterior walls, and crawl spaces with little or no insulation. In northern states, plumbing runs through insulated interior walls and heated basements. When temperatures drop into the 20s in Texas, exposed pipes freeze faster than homes built for cold climates.

The 2021 Winter Storm Uri proved how devastating this vulnerability can be. Hundreds of thousands of Texas homes suffered burst pipes, causing billions in damage. Pipes that had never frozen in 20 years burst when temperatures stayed below freezing for days.

Pipes begin to freeze when the outdoor temperature stays at or below 28 degrees Fahrenheit for four or more consecutive hours. Pipes in uninsulated attics and exterior walls can freeze at higher outdoor temperatures because these spaces are colder than the outdoor air when wind chill is a factor.

The most vulnerable pipes are those on north-facing exterior walls, in unheated garages, and in attic spaces. These areas receive no benefit from your home's heating system and drop to outdoor temperatures quickly.

Insulate exposed pipes with foam pipe sleeves from any hardware store. Focus on pipes in the attic, garage, crawl space, and exterior walls. For pipes that are hard to reach, heat tape or cable can be wrapped around the pipe and plugged in before a freeze event.

Disconnect and drain garden hoses. Close the interior shut-off valve for outdoor faucets if you have one, then open the outdoor faucet to drain any remaining water. Insulated faucet covers cost a few dollars and add a layer of protection.

Seal air leaks around pipes where they enter your home through exterior walls. Gaps around pipes, electrical wires, and dryer vents let cold air blow directly onto plumbing. Spray foam or caulk closes these gaps quickly.

Keep your thermostat at 55 degrees or higher, even if you leave town. The cost of heating is far less than the cost of burst pipe repairs. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to let heated air reach pipes on exterior walls.

Let faucets on exterior walls drip slowly. Moving water is harder to freeze than standing water. A slow drip from both hot and cold lines keeps water flowing through the most vulnerable pipes.

If you lose power during a freeze, open all faucets to a slow drip and shut off your main water valve. This minimizes the amount of water that can flood your home if pipes burst while you have no heat.

If you turn on a faucet and nothing comes out, a pipe is likely frozen. Shut off the main water valve immediately as a precaution. The pipe may already be cracked -- you just don't know until it thaws and water starts flowing through the crack.

Never use a torch, heat gun, or open flame to thaw pipes. Use a hair dryer, space heater aimed at the area (not touching the pipe), or wrap pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Thaw slowly to reduce the risk of a cracked pipe rupturing under pressure.

If a pipe has burst, keep the main water valve off and call a restoration professional. A burst pipe can release 4 to 8 gallons of water per minute. Even a short burst while you scramble to find the shutoff can cause thousands of dollars in damage.