Key facts: Hard freeze preparation
Short answer
What to do before a hard freeze arrives
Before a hard freeze: know how to close your main, disconnect hoses, follow the shutdown process for irrigation, insulate exposed lines and hose bibs, keep garage doors closed and open cabinet doors on exterior walls. When the cold arrives, keep the heat on and let exposed faucets trickle. During a thaw, walk the house looking for water. That covers most of the practical protection available to a homeowner.
Target list
Which spot needs what
| Where | Risk | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Hose bibs | Directly exposed | Disconnect hoses, fit insulated covers |
| Irrigation backflow device | Exposed above ground | Winterize or insulate per the installer's advice |
| Garage lines | Unheated space | Keep the door closed, insulate reachable pipes |
| Exterior wall sinks | Thin wall on the cold side | Open cabinet doors; trickle the faucet |
| Attic lines | Attic close to outside temperature | Check insulation covers the line, especially near soffit |
| Pool equipment | Plumbing exposed outdoors | Follow pool maker's freeze settings |
| Fire sprinkler system | Possibly in attic spaces | Ask your installer; do not shut off without advice |
Why bother
What February 2021 showed
The February 2021 event is the one to remember. At DFW, temperatures stayed at or below freezing for 93 hours from February 9 to 13, and then for a further 139 hours from February 13 to 19. The low was -2°F on February 16, the high on February 15 was below that date's record low, and the official event snowfall was 5.0 inches [2]. The all-time DFW record low is -8°F, set in 1899 [2]. In other words, this was unusual but not without precedent.
Those figures come from DFW Airport, which is well south of Prosper, so read them as a regional picture rather than a measurement of your street. And keep in mind that a typical winter has short freezes [1], most of which homes handle fine. Preparation is about the unusual event.
The fall hour
One afternoon's preparation
- 1
Find the main
Make sure it turns freely. Show everyone in the house.
- 2
Handle outdoors
Disconnect hoses, cover hose bibs, follow your irrigation shutdown process.
- 3
Handle the garage
Seal obvious gaps, insulate reachable lines, check softener and filter loops.
- 4
Glance in the attic
From the walkway, see if any lines look uninsulated, particularly near eaves.
- 5
Know your water heater
Check the manual for freeze and power-cut steps. Tankless units often have specific instructions.
- 6
Prepare a go-kit
Flashlights, a wet vac if you own one, plastic sheeting and your insurer's number.
During
What to do as the temperature falls
Keep the thermostat at a steady setting day and night. Let a thin stream run at faucets on exposed runs, including both hot and cold where a single-lever faucet allows. Open cabinet doors on exterior walls. Keep the garage door closed. If you lose water at a fixture, leave its faucet open and do not apply open flame. If you think a pipe has split, close the main before it thaws. Do not use a stove or outdoor heater for warmth, because of fire and carbon monoxide risk.
Power
If the power goes out as well
A long cold spell with an outage is the hard case. Without heat, indoor temperatures fall, and interior lines become exposed as well. If you face a long outage in a hard freeze and are leaving the house, consider closing the main and draining the lines by opening the low faucets, so that there is little left to freeze. Ask a plumber in advance about tankless units or fire sprinklers, since these may need specific handling. Move drinking water and any essential supplies into a safe spot first. Generators belong outside and well away from windows and doors.
Thaw
The part of the storm many people miss
The first warm day is often when the damage shows up. Check garage walls, ceilings beneath bathrooms and the attic hatch area, and watch your meter. If you are leaving the house while temperatures climb, closing the main until you return may be prudent. Plumbers and contractors tend to be very busy after a regional freeze, so keep expectations realistic. Photograph everything and do the protective steps you can. Read the first hour guide if water appears.
Newer homes
Points that catch owners of new houses out
- Assuming new construction is immune
- Not knowing where the builder put the main valve
- Irrigation systems left pressurized during hard freezes
- Softener loops and filters in unheated garages
- Attic insulation that was disturbed by later trades or cable installers
- Forgetting tankless water heater freeze protection needs power
Travel
If you will be away during the cold months
- Leave heat on and set a steady temperature
- Close washer and appliance valves
- Think about closing the main, but ask first if you have a fire sprinkler system
- Ask someone to check the house during any hard freeze
- Read what your policy says about empty houses
Afterward
Checking the lawn and outdoor lines in spring
When warm weather returns and you restart the irrigation, watch it through one full cycle. Outdoor splits often stay hidden until the system is pressurized again.
Questions
North Texas freeze questions
At what temperature should I worry about my pipes?
A common guideline is a sustained temperature around 20°F or lower for exposed lines, but wind, insulation and duration matter. Rather than chasing one number, prepare before any forecast of a multi-day hard freeze.
Should I cover my outdoor faucets every freeze?
You can leave covers on all winter, which is simplest. Make sure hoses are disconnected first, because a connected hose traps water that can freeze back into the fixture.
Do I need to drain my sprinkler system?
Follow your installer's advice. Many North Texas homeowners at least shut the irrigation valve and protect the backflow device before hard freezes. An exposed backflow device is a common failure point.
Should I keep my attic hatch open during a freeze?
In some homes, letting warm air reach attic lines may help, but it is not a universal solution, and it wastes heat. Good insulation on the line is better. Ask a plumber about your home.
Can new homes freeze as easily as older ones?
Newer homes often have better insulation, but lines in attics and garage walls can still freeze in a long, deep cold. Age is not protection, so the same checklist applies.
How do I protect a tankless water heater in a freeze?
Check the maker's instructions. Many units need power for freeze protection and need to be drained if the power fails. A plumber can walk you through the steps for your model.