Houston pipes are more vulnerable to freezing than pipes in northern cities—a counterintuitive fact with a straightforward explanation. Northern homes are built to handle sustained freezing temperatures: pipes are located inside insulated wall cavities, attics are thermally separated from the living space, and exterior penetrations are sealed. Houston homes are built for heat, not cold. Supply lines routinely run through uninsulated attic spaces, along exterior walls with minimal insulation, and through garages and crawlspaces exposed to outdoor air. When temperatures drop below 20°F—as they did during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021—Houston homes fail at rates that Alaska homes never approach.

Where Houston Pipes Freeze Most Often

Understanding where your pipes are most vulnerable focuses your protection efforts. The highest-risk locations in Houston homes: supply lines running through the attic (extremely common in Houston construction); pipes along exterior walls in garages; irrigation system backflow preventers and lines near the exterior slab; pipes under mobile homes or elevated structures; and pipes in utility rooms on exterior walls, particularly in older construction with inadequate insulation between the pipe and the exterior.

Before a Freeze: What to Do When a Cold Event Is Forecast

Know Your Main Water Shutoff

Before any freeze event, locate and test your main water shutoff valve. In Houston, this is typically near the curb at the water meter or where the main supply enters the house (frequently the garage or utility room). The shutoff valve should turn smoothly. If it has not been operated recently, it may be stuck—have a plumber inspect it before you need it in an emergency. Knowing where it is and confirming it works takes 5 minutes and is the most important preparation step.

Drip Susceptible Faucets

Running a slow, steady drip from faucets connected to supply lines that run through vulnerable areas keeps water moving, which reduces freezing risk. The drip does not need to be fast—a small trickle is sufficient. Focus on: any faucet supplied by lines running through the attic, exterior wall, or garage, and the faucet farthest from the water meter (which forces movement through the longest vulnerable run).

Insulate Exposed Pipes

Pipe insulation sleeves (foam tube insulation, available at hardware stores for $0.50 to $2.00 per foot) installed on exposed supply lines in the attic, garage, and crawlspace reduce the rate at which cold air can transfer to the pipe. This is not a complete solution for sustained below-20°F temperatures but provides meaningful protection for brief temperature drops. For attic supply lines, foam insulation combined with heat tape (electrical resistance heating cable) provides reliable protection for Houston’s typical brief cold events.

Disconnect and Drain Irrigation

Houston irrigation systems use backflow preventers and supply lines that are exposed at the exterior slab. Before a freeze, close the irrigation system’s main shut-off valve, and if possible drain the lines and backflow preventer. This is the single most commonly missed preparation step—irrigation backflow preventers are one of the most frequent freeze damage sources in Houston homes during cold events.

Open Cabinet Doors Under Sinks

Kitchen and bathroom sinks on exterior walls have supply lines inside the cabinet that receive little heat from the home’s HVAC. During a freeze event, opening the cabinet doors allows warm interior air to circulate around the pipes. Simple, free, and effective for overnight freeze events.

What to Do During an Ongoing Freeze

• Keep the thermostat at minimum 55°F—do not lower the heat to save money during a cold event
• If you leave the home for more than a few hours, do not turn the heat off entirely
• If you lose power during a freeze: shut off the main water supply immediately. A burst pipe that occurs when you are not home and the heat is off can discharge for hours before discovery.

Houston-Specific: After Winter Storm Uri

Winter Storm Uri (February 2021) caused an estimated $195 billion in Texas economic damage, with burst pipe water damage accounting for the majority of residential losses. The storm revealed systematic vulnerabilities in Houston’s housing stock that have not been universally corrected. Homes built before 2021 that did not have attic pipe runs re-routed or insulated after Uri remain vulnerable to the next comparable event. If your home experienced pipe damage during Uri and you made repairs without also addressing the underlying vulnerability (exposed attic runs, uninsulated lines), the same failure will occur in the next comparable freeze.

247 Restoration Specialists responds to frozen pipe water damage throughout Houston 24/7. Emergency response during freeze events. IICRC-certified. Direct insurance billing. Know our number before the next cold event.