How to Prevent Frozen Pipes During Texas Winter
38|Protect Your Cleburne Home from Burst Pipe Flooding
39|Texas winters bring hard freezes that burst unprotected pipes, flooding homes with thousands of gallons in minutes. Cleburne averages 30-40 freezing nights annually with temperatures dropping to the teens during severe cold snaps. One night of below-freezing temperatures can destroy pipes in attics, crawl spaces, and exterior walls — causing tens of thousands in water damage.
43| 44|Why Pipes Burst During Freezes
45|Water expands 9% when it freezes. This expansion creates immense pressure inside pipes — up to 40,000 PSI. Eventually the pipe ruptures, typically at joints or weak points. When temperatures rise above freezing, ice melts and water floods through the break. Many Cleburne homeowners discover burst pipes hours after the damage begins, returning home to flooded rooms and destroyed belongings.
46| 47|Insulate Exposed Pipes
48|Foam pipe insulation costs $1-3 per linear foot but prevents thousands in burst pipe damage. Focus on:
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- Attic pipes and water lines 51|
- Crawl space plumbing 52|
- Pipes in unheated garages 53|
- Exterior wall pipes (especially north-facing) 54|
- Supply lines under sinks against exterior walls 55|
Drip Faucets Overnight
58|Running water doesn't freeze as easily as standing water. During freezing nights, open faucets to a pencil-lead drip — just enough to keep water moving. Drip both hot and cold sides. Focus on faucets served by pipes in vulnerable locations (attics, exterior walls, unheated spaces).
59| 60|Open Cabinet Doors
61|Cabinet doors trap cold air around pipes under sinks, especially against exterior walls. Open bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors during freezes to allow warm interior air to circulate around plumbing. This simple step prevents many burst pipe disasters.
62| 63|Disconnect Garden Hoses
64|Water trapped in connected hoses freezes, then ice expands back into your home's plumbing. Disconnect all garden hoses before first freeze. Shut off interior valves supplying outdoor faucets, then open exterior faucets to drain remaining water.
65| 66|Seal Gaps and Cracks
67|Cold air infiltrating through gaps around pipes accelerates freezing. Seal openings where pipes penetrate walls or foundations with spray foam insulation. Check attic access points, crawl space vents, and gaps around plumbing penetrations.
68| 69|What to Do If Pipes Freeze
70|If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, the pipe has frozen:
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- Keep the faucet open — running water helps melt ice 73|
- Apply heat to the frozen section with a hair dryer or heat lamp 74|
- Never use open flame (torch, propane heater) — fire hazard 75|
- Work from the faucet toward the frozen area 76|
- Check all other faucets — if one pipe froze, others might too 77|
Emergency Response for Burst Pipes
80|If a pipe bursts:
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- Shut off water at the main valve immediately 83|
- Turn off electricity if water is near outlets or fixtures 84|
- Open faucets to drain remaining water 85|
- Call Cleburne Water Damage Pros: 817-677-8330 86|
- Move valuables away from water 87|
- Begin mopping/toweling if safe 88|