Houston homes are not built for hard freezes, so a sudden cold snap can freeze and burst exposed pipes — in the attic, garage, exterior walls, and outdoor hose bibs. If a faucet only trickles during a freeze, a pipe is frozen and you need to thaw it gently before the ice expands and splits the pipe. Never use an open flame. The best strategy, though, is prevention: dripping faucets, opening cabinets, and covering outdoor spigots before the temperature drops. This guide covers both.
What you'll need
- A hair dryer or heat lamp
- Towels
- Space heater (for the room, not the pipe directly)
- Faucet covers or towels/rags
- Pipe insulation
Recommended parts & supplies
- Foam pipe insulation — the cheapest way to protect exposed pipes before a freeze
- Outdoor faucet / spigot covers — insulated caps for hose bibs
- Pipe repair wrap / clamp — a temporary hold if a thawed pipe is cracked
- Heat tape for pipes — self-regulating cable for pipes that freeze every year
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Step by step
- 1
Find the frozen pipe
If one faucet barely trickles while others run fine during a freeze, the pipe feeding it is frozen. Trace it back toward the source and check the coldest runs — attic pipes, garage walls, exterior-wall pipes under sinks, and outdoor hose bibs. Frost or bulging on the pipe marks the spot.
- 2
Open the faucet before you thaw
Open the affected faucet to both hot and cold. As the ice melts, running water helps break it up and the open faucet relieves pressure — which is what actually prevents a burst as the ice releases. Leave it open the whole time you are thawing.
- 3
Apply gentle heat to the pipe
Warm the frozen section with a hair dryer, a heat lamp, or towels soaked in hot water, working from the faucet end back toward the frozen area. You can also aim a space heater at the room or the under-sink cabinet. Never use a blowtorch, propane heater, or any open flame on a pipe — it can burst the pipe or start a fire.
- 4
Keep the water shut-off handy
Know where your main shut-off is before you thaw. If the pipe cracked while frozen, water will pour out the moment the ice melts. If that happens, shut off the main immediately and call a plumber.
- 5
Insulate exposed pipes to prevent it
Once things are safe, prevent the next freeze. Slip foam pipe insulation over exposed pipes in the attic, garage, and exterior walls. For pipes that freeze every year, wrap them with self-regulating heat tape. This is cheap and the single most effective prevention step.
- 6
Prep before every hard freeze
When a Houston freeze is forecast: cap outdoor hose bibs with insulated faucet covers, disconnect garden hoses, let a couple of faucets drip overnight, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to let warm air in, and keep the heat on even if you are away. These simple habits prevent the vast majority of freeze bursts.
When to call a pro
Call a licensed plumber right away if a pipe has already burst or split, if you cannot locate the frozen section, or if a pipe is frozen inside a finished wall where you cannot safely apply heat. After any hard freeze, a hidden crack can leak slowly for days — if your water bill jumps, you hear running water with everything off, or you see damp drywall, get a pro out to find it. Repairing burst pipes, especially inside walls or under the slab, is work for a professional, not a DIY patch.
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How to Thaw Frozen Pipes and Prevent Them in Houston — FAQ
How do I safely thaw a frozen pipe?
How do I keep my pipes from freezing in a Houston freeze?
How do I know if a pipe is frozen?
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