How to Protect Pipes From Freezing in Dallas
Dallas freezes are infrequent but can be severe. The City's checklist is simple: wrap exposed pipes, protect outdoor faucets, learn your shutoff, and drip faucets during a hard freeze.
Read the guideWhat Temperature Can Dallas Pipes Freeze?
Water freezes at 32°F, but whether a pipe freezes depends on how long it stays cold, wind, and how exposed the pipe is. There is no single safe number.
Read the guideShould You Drip Faucets During a Dallas Freeze?
Yes, during a hard freeze. The City of Dallas advises letting hot and cold water drip slowly from inside faucets.
Read the guideHow to Protect Outdoor Faucets
Outdoor faucets (hose bibs) are the most common freeze casualty. Disconnect hoses and cover the faucet before the cold arrives.
Read the guideHow to Protect Attic Plumbing
Many Dallas homes, especially those repiped to avoid slab leaks, run water lines through the attic. Those lines need insulation for freezes.
Read the guideWhat to Do if Your Pipes Freeze
If a faucet only trickles during a freeze, a pipe is likely frozen. Thaw it carefully and be ready to shut the water off in case it has split.
Read the guideWhat to Do if a Frozen Pipe Bursts
Shut off the water at your private shutoff right away. If you cannot, Dallas Water Utilities can turn water off at the meter in an emergency through 311.
Read the guideWhere Is My Main Water Shutoff?
Most Dallas homes have a private shut-off valve near an outside faucet close to the house. Older homes may have a buried valve with an upside-down "L" handle.
Read the guideShould I Turn My Water Off When Leaving During a Freeze?
Yes, if the house will be empty for several days. The City advises turning off water at the private shut-off and draining outside faucets.
Read the guide