The winter season in North Texas calls for strategic preparation. While the region doesn’t experience the prolonged freezes common in northern climates, sudden cold snaps can still cause costly damage. It’s important to understand that your outdoor infrastructure needs protection just as much as your indoor systems. Starting with your plumbing, it’s critical to safeguard exterior fixtures, exposed pipes, and related equipment before temperatures drop. To stay ahead of the weather, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to winterize outdoor plumbing in the DFW area.
Why Winterizing Matters in Texas
Winters in North Texas are generally mild, but temperatures can still dip as low as 29°F and occasionally below zero. Because water freezes between 28°F and 32°F, depending on purity and mineral content, even short periods of freezing weather can damage your outdoor plumbing. Winterizing matters because it prevents:
Burst Pipes
Water expands by up to 9% in volume when it freezes. This expansion exerts tremendous pressure inside pipes and hose bibs, beyond their structural limits. The result: cracks, ruptures, or complete bursts.
Leaks and Hidden Damage
Even if pipes, hose bibs, and irrigation systems don’t burst outright, freezing can still create hairline fractures. These small cracks often remain hidden until warmer weather returns. By then, you may notice unexpected spikes in your water bill or damp spots around your foundation and yard. Left unchecked, these leaks can cause structural and landscaping damage.
Fixture and Equipment Damage
Freezing temperatures can damage exterior spigots, decorative fountains, and other outdoor plumbing fixtures. Internal valves, seals, and fittings may crack under pressure, leaving fixtures unusable or prone to leaks once thawed.
Irrigation System Failures
Sprinkler lines, drip systems, and backflow preventers are quite vulnerable in winter. Residual water trapped underground can freeze, expand, and split PVC or poly tubing. A damaged irrigation system not only requires expensive repairs but can also leave your lawn and landscaping without proper watering in the spring.
How to Protect Outdoor Fixtures
Protecting your outdoor plumbing does not have to be a complicated task. With a few proactive steps, you can safeguard your home against freeze damage. The following North Texas plumbing tips will help keep your system secure during cold snaps:
Shut Off Outdoor Water Supply
Locate the shut-off valve of your outdoor water outlets in the basement, utility area, or crawlspace and turn it off. Then, open all exterior taps to allow all remaining water to drain out. This prevents water from sitting in pipes where it could freeze and expand.
Cover Faucets
Winter faucet covers are an affordable and effective solution to winterizing outdoor faucets. They are often made from foam or an insulated material that snugly fits over the faucet.
Faucet covers work by trapping residual heat from your home’s walls and reducing exposure to cold air. They also keep dirt, debris, and pests from entering your plumbing system.
Blow Out Irrigation Systems
If you have a sprinkler system, make sure to remove all residual water before the first freeze. Even underground lines can crack if water is left inside. Use compressed air to blow out the system, starting with the main and working through each zone. This is a task best handled by a plumber to avoid costly damage.
Insulate Exposed Pipes
Frozen pipes prevention starts and ends with proper insulation. This is the ultimate solution. Hire a plumber to wrap all pipes running through unheated spaces like crawlspaces and garages with foam or fiberglass insulation.
Insulation acts as a thermal barrier, slowing heat loss and keeping water inside pipes above freezing temperatures. For added protection, especially in vulnerable sections, you can also ask your plumber to install heat tape or cable along exposed lines.
What to Do Before a Freeze Warning
Besides draining hoses and irrigation systems, winterproof your outdoor plumbing by taking advantage of your home’s existing warmth and other cold-weather protection strategies. For example, open cabinet doors to allow heated air to circulate around pipes along exterior walls. Seal drafts quickly, especially in crawlspaces and garages. You can use rags or towels as you wait for professional help to arrive.
More importantly, hire a licensed plumber to inspect and prepare your plumbing system for winter in North Texas. An expert will identify vulnerable areas, recommend and install the best insulation for your pipes, and uncover weaknesses that might affect your plumbing system during and after winter.
Contact AirCo for Reliable Solutions
If you live in North Texas, call AirCo today for winter plumbing protection you can trust. We offer same-day service and are available every day to take care of your needs whenever it is convenient for you.
Consult AirCo today to winterize outdoor plumbing in DFW.
