Winter Pipe Freeze Prevention for North Texas Homes

North Texas doesn’t get cold for long, and that’s exactly what makes our pipes vulnerable. Homes here aren’t built with the deep insulation and buried plumbing that colder climates rely on, so when a hard freeze does hit, exposed and exterior-facing lines can go from fine to frozen in a single overnight cold snap.

A frozen pipe is an inconvenience. A burst pipe is a flooded house. Here’s how to protect your home before the next freeze warning, and what to do if a pipe has already frozen.

Before the freeze: what to do this week

• Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and shut off exterior hose bibs at their interior valve if you have one
• Wrap exposed pipes in the garage, attic, and under sinks along exterior walls with foam pipe insulation
• Seal any gaps or drafts around pipes where they enter the house, cold air finds its way in through surprisingly small openings
• Know where your main water shutoff valve is located, and make sure it turns freely before you actually need it

The night of a hard freeze

Let faucets drip

A slow, steady drip from faucets fed by exposed or exterior-wall pipes keeps water moving, and moving water is far less likely to freeze solid. This is especially important for any faucet on an exterior wall or above an unheated garage.

Open cabinet doors

Under-sink cabinets on exterior walls trap cold air around the pipes. Opening the doors lets warmer house air circulate around them overnight.

Keep the heat steady

Resist the urge to lower the thermostat overnight to save money during a hard freeze. A consistent indoor temperature, even a modest one, does more to protect your pipes than anything else on this list.

“We get more burst-pipe calls in the 48 hours after a freeze than during it. Pipes that survive the cold snap fail as they thaw, so don’t relax just because the temperature is climbing again.”Herndon McFarland, Master Plumber

If a pipe has already frozen

1. Turn off the main water supply immediately if you suspect a pipe has burst, don’t wait to confirm it
2. Open the affected faucet to relieve pressure as the line thaws
3. Apply gentle heat with a hair dryer or heating pad, never an open flame, starting near the faucet and working toward the blockage
4. Call a licensed plumber if you can’t locate the frozen section or if water has already started leaking

Why this matters more in North Texas than up north

Homes in genuinely cold climates are built for it, pipes run deep, insulation is thicker, and freezing is a routine part of construction planning. Homes here weren’t built with that in mind, which means a single unusual cold snap can catch a house completely unprepared. A little prevention goes a long way when your plumbing wasn’t designed for the cold in the first place.