1. Insulate Outdoor Faucets & Hose Bibs
Outdoor faucets are the first thing to freeze. Disconnect every garden hose, drain it, and store it indoors. Install a foam faucet cover on every hose bib — they cost a few dollars and prevent hundreds in damage. If you have a frost-free spigot, the cover still helps block wind chill.
- Disconnect and drain all hoses
- Cover every outdoor faucet with an insulated cap
- Shut off and drain any dedicated outdoor irrigation lines
2. Wrap Exposed Pipes
Pipes in attics, garages, crawl spaces, and exterior walls are the most vulnerable spots in a Texas home — they're rarely built for sustained freezes. Wrap them in foam pipe insulation or heat tape rated for plumbing. Pay attention to where water lines run along an uninsulated exterior wall.
3. Manage Indoor Temperature
Keep your thermostat at 55°F or higher, day and night, during a freeze — even if you're out of town. Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air can reach the supply lines. If a hard freeze is forecast, let a pencil-thin stream of water drip from the faucet farthest from your main shutoff. Moving water is much harder to freeze.
4. Know Your Main Shutoff
Before the storm hits, find your main water shutoff valve and make sure it actually turns. Most Texas homes have it at the front of the house near the meter or on an exterior wall close to where the water enters. If a pipe bursts, shutting this off fast is the difference between a wet rag and a flooded living room.
5. If a Pipe Freezes
Open the affected faucet so water can flow once it thaws. Warm the pipe with a hair dryer or heating pad — never an open flame. If you suspect a pipe has already split, shut off the main valve immediately and call a licensed plumber. Burst pipes get worse the longer water sits in the wall.
Need help winterizing — or already have a leak?
Providence Plumbing Solutions serves Fort Worth, Keller, Saginaw, Haslet and surrounding areas. We handle freeze prep, pipe insulation, and 24/7 burst-pipe emergencies.