How to Protect Your Pipes During a Texas Winter Freeze

Texas homes are uniquely vulnerable to frozen pipes because they are designed for heat, not cold. Pipes in attics, exterior walls, garages, and crawl spaces often have little or no insulation — and when temperatures drop below 28°F for extended periods, those pipes can freeze, expand, and burst.

Before the Freeze

The best time to protect your pipes is before freezing weather arrives. Insulate all exposed pipes in the attic, garage, and exterior walls using foam pipe insulation sleeves — they cost $1-3 per 6-foot section at any hardware store and install in minutes. Disconnect all garden hoses from outdoor hose bibs and shut off the indoor supply valve to each hose bib if one exists. Install frost-proof hose bib covers on outdoor faucets. If your home has a sprinkler system, have it winterized — the backflow preventer is especially vulnerable to freezing.

During the Freeze

When temperatures drop below 28°F, take these steps: open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to let warm air circulate around the pipes. Let faucets at the far end of the house drip slowly — both hot and cold lines. Moving water is much harder to freeze than standing water. Keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F, even if you are away from home. If you have an attic water heater, consider placing a space heater (safely positioned, away from flammables) in the attic to keep the temperature above freezing.

If Your Pipes Freeze

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out during freezing weather, a pipe is likely frozen. Keep the faucet open — this relieves pressure and allows water to flow once the ice begins to melt. Apply gentle heat to the suspected frozen section using a hair dryer, heat lamp, or warm towels. Never use a blowtorch, propane heater, or open flame — these can damage pipes, ignite wall materials, or cause steam explosions. If you cannot locate the frozen section or the pipe has already burst, shut off the main water valve and call a plumber immediately.

After the Thaw

Even if water starts flowing normally after a freeze, inspect all accessible pipes for cracks, bulges, or wet spots. Ice may have cracked the pipe but is still temporarily sealing the break. When the ice melts completely, the crack becomes an active leak. Check the attic, garage, under sinks, and around the water heater for any signs of water damage.

Long-Term Protection

If your home experienced frozen pipes or near-misses, consider permanent improvements: add pipe insulation throughout the attic and garage, install electric heat tape on the most vulnerable runs, replace outdoor hose bibs with frost-proof models, and have a plumber reroute any pipes running through uninsulated exterior walls to interior routes.