Overview
Hard freezes are rare here, and that is the trouble: houses get built and lived in like it never happens. Attic runs, outside walls, garage lines and hose bibs sit bare. Ice takes up more room than water, and that squeeze cracks the pipe, often a few feet from the frozen plug.
The real flooding usually starts during the thaw. That is why the first step is knowing where your main shut-off is. We thaw lines gradually, check each run for splits before restoring water, and repair what failed. Then we address why it froze, with insulation, frost-free spigots or rerouting an exposed line.
How we handle it
Shut off and thaw
Main valve ready, lines warmed slowly.
Find the splits
Each run checked before water is restored.
Repair and protect
Damaged pipe replaced, exposed lines insulated.
What it costs
Thawing and inspection is a service call. Each split repaired adds parts and labor. Insulating exposed lines and installing frost-free spigots is quoted separately and costs far less than a second freeze repair.
Good to know
- Keep cabinet doors open on outside walls during a freeze.
- Set the thermostat no lower than the mid 50s if you travel in winter.
- Wrap a backflow preventer and hose bibs with insulated covers.
The Hill Country edge in Helotes and the far northwest often runs a few degrees colder on freeze nights than downtown. Cover spigots and disconnect hoses early.
Frozen pipe repair questions
Should I drip faucets in a freeze?
On hard freeze nights, a slow drip at faucets on exterior walls helps.
Can I use a hair dryer to thaw a pipe?
Gentle heat is fine. Never use an open flame.
Do you work during winter storms?
Yes, 24 hours a day.
My pipe froze but did not burst. Am I safe?
Probably, but check closely after it thaws. Small splits sometimes only show once pressure returns.