Texans had more than $8 billion in insured losses from Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, with many homes damaged due to frozen or burst pipes.

We talked to Dave Yelovich @HomesBuiltRight , a board member of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (https://tsbpe.texas.gov/), about what people can do to protect their pipes in freezing temperatures.

What can I do to protect my pipes from cold weather?

Insulate your exposed pipes. Start in your attic and work your way down your house. Attics were the number one place where pipes froze during Winter Storm Uri.

You can buy insulation that is simple to use and only requires that you wrap it around a pipe. This doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get frozen pipes, but it can slow down the process.

Is there a way to protect my pipes from freezing if I don’t have heat or power?

Try not go in and out of exterior doors a lot. You want to try and keep warm air inside the house. If you have a fireplace, you can try to warm your house. You can also drip your indoor faucets to get water moving.

Will dripping outdoor faucets keep pipes from freezing?

Dripping outdoor faucets may not prevent them from freezing. But you need to protect them.

Before cold weather, buy hose bib covers for outdoor faucets. These coverings wrap around outdoor faucets and protect them. If you can’t find insulation, you can wrap towels around faucets with duct tape. Any insulation around the hose bib is good.

How can I keep my sprinkler system from freezing?

Most sprinkler systems are in the ground, so it takes a few days for them to freeze. The earth helps create radiant heat, but sometimes there are exposed pipes that may lead to your home. In this case, insulate the pipes the same way you would other exposed pipes at your house. You’ll want to turn the valve off and shut down the sprinkler system. Drain it as best as you can to get water out.

Will turning off the water to my house keep my pipes from freezing?

If you have exposed pipes and no way to insulate them, find your home’s water main shutoff valve and cut off the water. If you do this, make sure you drain any water remaining from the pipes so that they don’t freeze.

Where can I find my home’s water cutoff valve?

If you have municipal water, you probably have a water meter near the curb and a box that contains water valves. If you find this, turn the valve to shut off the water to your home. In some cases, you may need a tool to get some leverage. Some boxes can contain valves to multiple homes, so make sure you turn only the valve that provides water to your house.

Should I defrost my pipes if they freeze?

No. You could cause damage to your pipes by trying to defrost them. Let your pipes thaw naturally.

How do I practice keeping my pipes safe from freezing?

Plan ahead. Keep insulation around your home and know where your pipes are located and exposed. Know where your tools are if you need to turn off the water to your home.

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00:00 How to prevent pipes from freezing
00:28 What can I do to protect my pipes from cold weather?
01:32 Is there a way to protect my pipes from freezing if I don’t have heat or power?
03:51 Will dripping outdoor faucets keep pipes from freezing?
05:03 How can I keep my sprinkler system from freezing?
06:20 Will turning off the water to my house keep my pipes from freezing?
07:23 Where can I find my home’s water cutoff valve?
9:25 How do I practice keeping my pipes safe from freezing?
10:52 Should I defrost my pipes if they freeze?
11:39 For questions about insurance visit https://www.tdi.texas.gov or call 8002523439