North Texas homes were built for heat, not for the multi-day freezes that now reach us most winters. Attic plumbing, exterior hose bibs and pipes in uninsulated exterior walls are the usual failure points, and when they let go the result is a burst pipe loss that can flood several rooms before anyone is home to notice. A little preparation prevents most of it.
Before the freeze
- Insulate exposed pipes. Foam sleeves on attic and garage plumbing are inexpensive and effective. Pay attention to the supply lines feeding the water heater and any pipe running along an exterior wall.
- Protect hose bibs. Disconnect hoses, drain them, and cover outdoor faucets with insulated covers. A connected hose traps water in the faucet body and is a common cause of a split fitting inside the wall.
- Know your shutoff. Locate the main water shutoff now, and make sure everyone in the household can operate it. In many homes it is at the meter box near the curb and needs a meter key.
- Seal air leaks. Cold air blowing on a pipe through a gap around a penetration or a poorly sealed attic hatch freezes it faster than cold ambient temperature does.
- Check the attic. If your water heater or supply manifold is in the attic, confirm the insulation actually covers the pipes rather than lying beside them.
During the freeze
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm room air reaches the plumbing.
- Let faucets on vulnerable lines drip. Moving water is harder to freeze, and a drip relieves pressure if ice does form.
- Keep the thermostat at a steady temperature day and night rather than setting it back overnight.
- If you leave town, do not turn the heat off. Set it no lower than 55°F and consider shutting off the main and draining the lines.
If a pipe freezes
A frozen pipe often shows as a faucet that produces only a trickle. Shut off the main first, then open the affected faucet and warm the pipe gradually with a hair dryer or warm towels, working from the faucet toward the frozen section. Never use an open flame. If you cannot find the frozen section or the pipe is inside a wall, call a plumber.
If a pipe bursts
Ice itself rarely causes the flood. The pipe splits while frozen, and the water comes when it thaws, sometimes hours after the freeze ends and often while you are at work. Shut off the main, kill power to affected areas if it is safe, and call for mitigation immediately. Under the IICRC S500 standard this is a Category 1 clean water loss at first, but standing water degrades quickly, and mold can begin within 24 to 48 hours. Fast extraction and structural drying keep a freeze loss from becoming a rebuild.
Insurance notes
Sudden and accidental water discharge from freezing is commonly covered, but many policies require that the home was heated or that the water was shut off if the home was unoccupied. Read your policy or ask your agent before winter. If a loss occurs, we document the source and the drying so your adjuster has what the claim needs.
Fire & Water Restoration Plus responds to freeze-related water losses across Wylie, Sachse, Murphy, Plano and the surrounding counties 24 hours a day. Call 972-455-8252.