How to Winterize Your Pipes in North Texas

Why Pipe Winterization Matters in North Texas

If you have lived in the Fort Worth area for any length of time, you know that winter here is unpredictable. We can have weeks of mild 60-degree days followed by a sudden arctic front that plunges temperatures into the single digits overnight. Unlike northern states where homes are built with deep frost lines and insulated plumbing as standard practice, many North Texas homes were built with exposed pipes in attics, exterior walls, and crawl spaces that are extremely vulnerable to freezing.

The devastating February 2021 winter storm proved how catastrophic a prolonged freeze can be for our area. 2 Brothers Restoration responded to hundreds of burst pipe emergencies in the weeks that followed, and many of those could have been prevented with proper winterization. Here is your complete guide to protecting your home before the next freeze hits.

Understanding How Pipes Freeze and Burst

When water inside a pipe freezes, it expands by approximately nine percent. This expansion creates enormous pressure, up to 2,000 pounds per square inch, inside the pipe. The burst does not typically happen at the ice blockage itself. Instead, the pressure builds between the ice plug and the closed faucet, causing the pipe to fail at its weakest point, which is often a joint, fitting, or section of older pipe.

Pipes most at risk in North Texas homes include:

• Outdoor hose bibs and spigots
• Supply lines in unheated garages
• Pipes routed through attic spaces
• Pipes in exterior walls, especially on the north side of the home
• Sprinkler system backflow preventers
• Swimming pool supply lines

Outdoor Preparation

Disconnect and Drain Garden Hoses

Leaving a garden hose connected to an outdoor faucet during a freeze is one of the most common causes of pipe bursts in residential homes. The hose traps water in the faucet and the supply line behind it. When that water freezes, it can split the faucet or crack the pipe inside the wall. Disconnect all hoses, drain them, and store them in the garage before the first freeze warning.

Install Frost-Free Hose Bibs

If your home has older outdoor faucets that do not have a built-in shut-off valve, consider upgrading to frost-free hose bibs. These faucets have an elongated valve stem that places the actual water seal inside the warm wall cavity rather than at the exposed exterior. They cost between 15 and 30 dollars and are one of the most effective freeze prevention upgrades you can make.

Winterize Your Sprinkler System

Your irrigation system should be blown out with compressed air before the first hard freeze. This forces all remaining water out of the lines, heads, and valves. Most Fort Worth irrigation companies offer winterization services in October and November. The backflow preventer, which is usually the most exposed component, should be insulated with a cover specifically designed for that purpose.

Indoor Preparation

Insulate Exposed Pipes

Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and available at any hardware store. Wrap all exposed pipes in your attic, garage, and crawl space with pre-slit foam tubes. For pipes in extremely cold areas, consider using heat tape or heat cable, which is an electrical element that wraps around the pipe and provides gentle warmth to prevent freezing. Make sure to use heat tape that is UL-listed and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions exactly.

Seal Air Leaks Around Pipes

Cold air entering your home through gaps around pipes is a major freeze risk factor. Check where pipes enter from exterior walls or the foundation slab and seal any gaps with caulk or expanding foam. Pay special attention to the area where your main water line enters the house, as this is often a significant air leak.

Know Your Interior Shut-Off Valves

Many homes have individual shut-off valves for outdoor faucets. Locate these valves, which are typically inside the house on the pipe leading to each outdoor spigot, and close them before winter. Then open the outdoor faucet to drain any remaining water from the line. This two-step process provides the best protection for outdoor plumbing.

During a Freeze Event

Let Faucets Drip

When temperatures are forecast to drop below 28 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours, open both hot and cold faucets to a slow, steady drip. Focus on faucets served by pipes that run through exterior walls or unheated spaces. The moving water is much harder to freeze than standing water, and the open faucet relieves pressure buildup that causes bursts.

Open Cabinet Doors

Kitchen and bathroom cabinets on exterior walls insulate the pipes behind them from your home's warm air. Open these cabinet doors during a freeze to allow heated air to reach the pipes. This simple step can raise the temperature around those pipes by 10 to 15 degrees.

Keep Your Thermostat Consistent

Set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit and do not lower it at night. The few dollars you save on heating are nothing compared to the cost of a burst pipe. If you are leaving town during winter, never turn your heat off entirely. Many of the worst burst pipe cases we respond to happen in vacant homes where the owner turned off the heat to save money during a trip.

Garage Door Awareness

If you have water supply lines running through your garage, keep the garage door closed during freezing weather. An open garage door exposes these pipes to outdoor temperatures and wind chill. If you frequently come and go, install a timer or smart garage door controller to ensure it is not left open accidentally.

What to Do If Your Pipes Freeze

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out during freezing weather, you likely have a frozen pipe. Here is how to respond:

• Keep the faucet open. As you thaw the pipe, the running water will help melt the ice inside.
• Apply gentle heat. Use a hair dryer, heat lamp, or portable space heater directed at the frozen section. Never use a propane torch or open flame, which can ignite the wall or damage the pipe.
• Work from the faucet backward. Start heating the pipe at the faucet end and work toward the frozen section. This allows water to flow out as it melts rather than building pressure.
• Check for leaks. As the pipe thaws, inspect it carefully for cracks or splits. A pipe can be frozen and cracked but not leaking until the ice melts and water begins flowing again.

If you discover a burst pipe, shut off the main water supply immediately and call 2 Brothers Restoration at (817) 607-3264 for emergency water extraction. The faster we can remove standing water, the less damage your home will sustain. We respond to freeze-related emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the Fort Worth metroplex.

After the Freeze

Once temperatures rise above freezing, do a thorough inspection of your property. Check under sinks, in the attic, and in the garage for any signs of leaking. Look at your ceilings for new water stains, and check your water meter to make sure it is not running when all fixtures are closed. Some pipe cracks are small enough that they only leak slowly, and you may not notice the damage for days. If you spot any signs of a leak, our water damage restoration team can assess the situation and prevent further damage before mold has a chance to develop.