Prevention
Winter Pipe Freezes In Montgomery County
Texas plumbing is not built for hard freezes. Here is how to protect it and what to do when a line lets go.
March 21, 2026 · 7 min read
Why Texas pipes freeze so easily
Homes here are built for heat. Supply lines run through unconditioned attics and along exterior walls with minimal insulation, and outdoor hose bibs are rarely frost-proof. A single night in the low twenties is enough to split a line.
Before the freeze
Take these steps when a hard freeze is forecast:
- Disconnect hoses and cover exterior spigots
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls
- Let a pencil-thin stream drip from the farthest faucet
- Insulate accessible attic and garage piping
- Locate your main shutoff before you need it in the dark
The break usually shows up during the thaw
Ice expands and splits the pipe while frozen, but water does not escape until the line thaws. That is why the damage wave hits a day or two after the cold snap ends — often while homeowners are away assuming they came through fine.