Plumbing tips · November 8, 2026
Before the hard freeze hits
North Texas houses are built for heat, not for a few nights in the teens. A little work before the cold comes keeps a frozen pipe from turning into a flooded room.
Outside first
Take the hoses off every outside faucet so the water can drain out, and put an insulated cover on each one. Shut off and drain the sprinkler system and cover its backflow preventer, the brass valve assembly that sits above ground.
Open the cabinets
Sinks on outside walls are the ones that freeze. Open the cabinet doors under them on the coldest nights so the warm air in the house can reach the pipes.
Let the faucets drip
A slow drip from the faucets on outside walls, hot and cold, keeps water moving and relieves pressure if ice does start to form. It costs a little water and can save a pipe.
Know where the water shuts off
Find the main water shut-off before the freeze, and make sure it turns. If a pipe does split, every minute the water runs is more damage.
Questions we get asked
Which pipes freeze first?
Pipes in outside walls, in the attic, in a garage or crawl space, and the line to the water heater if it sits in the garage. Anywhere the house heat does not reach.Should I turn the heat down at night?
Not during a hard freeze. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night, even if you are away from home.What if I am leaving town during a freeze?
Keep the heat on and have someone check the house. Shutting off the main and draining the lines is the safest choice for a longer trip.Plumbing questions we answer
Where we go
Parker, Wise and Tarrant County, out of the shop in Springtown. Springtown, Weatherford, Azle, Boyd, Decatur, Newark, Millsap, Fort Worth and the country in between.
Call 817-487-8866