Preventing Frozen Pipes in North Texas

Even in North Texas, Arctic cold fronts can send temperatures below freezing for hours or days. When water inside pipes freezes, it expands—and that pressure can split copper, PEX, or PVC lines, often in attics, crawl spaces, garage walls, or along exterior walls. Prevention costs far less than emergency repairs and water restoration. Start with the basics: know where your main shut-off is and test it once a year. Insulate pipes in unconditioned spaces, especially where water lines run along exterior walls or in the attic above insulation. Foam sleeves or fiberglass wrap are inexpensive and effective. Outdoor hose bibs (sillcocks) are a common failure point. Disconnect hoses before winter, close any interior shut-off valves feeding outdoor lines if you have them, and consider frost-free bibs on retrofits. During a forecast hard freeze, dripping one faucet on an exterior wall can keep water moving enough to reduce ice formation—prioritize the coldest run of pipe, often farthest from where water enters the home. Keep the home heated to at least 55°F when you are away, and open cabinet doors under kitchen and bath sinks so warm air reaches hidden lines. Seal gaps where pipes pass through exterior walls to stop wind-driven cold spots. If you lose heat during a storm, act quickly: shut off water at the main and consider draining fixtures by opening taps at the lowest and highest points after the supply is off, or call a licensed plumber for guidance before damage occurs. Everflow Plumbing serves Royse City, Rockwall, and the greater DFW area with 24/7 emergency service. If you suspect a frozen line, hear banging in walls, or lose water pressure on a freeze night, call us before a small issue becomes a burst pipe emergency.