Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 taught South Texas a hard lesson: our homes aren't built for deep freezes, and the pipes prove it. Burst lines flooded homes across Cibolo and the Metrocom. Here's how to make sure your home is ready before the next hard freeze — because there will be one.
Why Texas pipes are so vulnerable
Homes here often have pipes in unconditioned or exposed spaces — exterior walls, attics, garages, and outdoor runs — that would be buried deep or heavily insulated in colder climates. When temperatures plunge, water in those pipes freezes, expands, and splits the pipe. The flood comes when it thaws.
Before the freeze: prepare now
- Insulate exposed pipes in the attic, garage, and along exterior walls with foam sleeves
- Cover outdoor spigots with insulated faucet covers and disconnect garden hoses
- Know where your main shut-off is and make sure it turns freely
- Insulate or wrap your water heater and any exposed water lines to it
- Seal gaps where cold air reaches pipes — around the water line entry, in the garage, under sinks on exterior walls
During a hard freeze
- Let a pencil-thin trickle run from a faucet on an exterior wall — moving water resists freezing
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls to let warm air reach the pipes
- Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through it
- Leave the heat on and don't let the house get too cold, even if you leave
If a pipe freezes or bursts
If a faucet won't run during a freeze, the line may be frozen — shut off the main and call before it thaws and floods. If a pipe has already burst, shut off the water immediately and call our burst pipe repair team. We answer 24/7 and repaired countless Uri-damaged lines across the region.
Rural properties need extra care
Homes in New Berlin and Santa Clara with well houses, exposed outdoor plumbing, and long supply runs took some of the worst freeze damage in 2021. Insulating well houses and exposed lines, and knowing how to protect the pump, is essential in the country.
Get ahead of winter
A little preparation beats a flooded house. If you want a pro to insulate vulnerable lines and identify your home's weak spots before winter, call (831) 290-4327.
The Pipes That Actually Burst Here
South Texas homes aren't built for deep cold, so the failures cluster in predictable places: pipes in the attic and along exterior walls, the water line running through an unconditioned garage, outdoor hose bibs, and the supply to a water heater sitting in the garage. Those are the runs to insulate first, because they're the ones exposed to the cold when a hard freeze rolls through.
During Winter Storm Uri, the homes that came through best had two things: pipes insulated in those exact spots, and owners who knew where their main shut-off was and made sure it turned. If a hard freeze is forecast, insulate the vulnerable runs, cover the hose bibs, let a pencil-thin trickle run from a faucet on an exterior wall, and open cabinet doors under exterior-wall sinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Uninsulated pipes exposed to sustained temperatures around 20°F or below are at real risk, and wind chill on exterior runs accelerates it. Because our homes have more exposed and poorly insulated plumbing than northern homes, even a short hard freeze can cause failures.
Open the faucet the pipe feeds, then warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer or towels soaked in hot water, working from the faucet end back. Never use an open flame. If you can't reach the frozen section or a pipe has already split, shut off the main and call us.
Yes — they're inexpensive and effective for the exposed points that fail most: outdoor hose bibs and exterior/attic pipe runs. They won't protect a deeply exposed line during an extreme, prolonged freeze, but for typical Cibolo cold snaps they prevent the common bursts.
Cibolo Pro Plumbing
Licensed Texas plumbers (TX Master Plumber (TSBPE)) based in Cibolo, serving the Metrocom for 15+ years. Have a question about your home's plumbing? Call (831) 290-4327.
