Before a freeze
Protect exposed pipes
Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of your home, including the attic
Let faucets drip
Let hot and cold water drip slowly from inside faucets during a hard freeze
Open cabinet doors
Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls
Outdoor faucets and hoses
Drain and remove garden hoses from outside faucets and insulate outdoor faucets with hard foam covers or wrap them with a cloth
Know your shutoff
Learn how to operate your private shut-off valve and, if your house will be unoccupied for several days, turn off the water at your private shut-off valve and drain all outside water faucets
If a pipe freezes or bursts
If a pipe bursts
Turn off the main water valve to your home until the leak is repaired.
Before you warm a frozen pipe
Keep the faucet open.
Warming the pipe
Use a heating pad, electric hair dryer, a portable space heater, or wrap pipes with towels soaked in hot water.
When to call a plumber
Call a licensed plumber if you cannot locate the frozen area, if it is not within reach, or if you cannot get the pipe to thaw.
- Ensure electrical cords do not touch water and do not use blowtorches, kerosene or propane heaters, charcoal stoves, or other open flame devices.
How often it freezes in Dallas
| Weather station | DALLAS FT WORTH AP, TX US (NOAA USW00003927) |
|---|---|
| Freeze risk | Typical first freeze Nov 24; last Mar 8; 29.2 nights at or below 32°F a year |
Who to call at the utility
| Utility | Dallas Water Utilities |
|---|---|
| Phone | 3-1-1 (within Dallas city limits) or 214-670-3111 (outside the city limits) |
| What it's for | To report or request a water main break, meter leak, fire hydrant leak, clogged or overflowing wastewater main, or emergency water turn off. |
| Hours | 24 hours a day |