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Frozen Pipe Water Damage in Richardson, TX
If a pipe froze and split, shut off your main water valve and call (972) 947-2040. If it’s frozen but not leaking yet, you may still be able to thaw it safely and avoid the damage. Here’s how to tell which situation you’re in, and what to do in each.
Which one is it?
Frozen pipe or burst pipe?
Frozen, not leaking
A faucet gives only a trickle or nothing, but there’s no water on the floor, walls or ceiling.
- Leave that faucet open
- Warm the pipe with a hair dryer, heating pad or hot, wet towels
- Never use an open flame
- Keep heating until full pressure returns
- Check your other faucets: one frozen pipe often means more
Frozen and split
Water is spraying, dripping or spreading, or a ceiling or wall is stained or sagging.
- Shut off the main water valve now
- Open the lowest faucet to drain the lines
- Turn off breakers for wet rooms if it’s safe
- Photograph everything and keep the broken pipe
- Call a plumber, then (972) 947-2040 for drying
Thawing steps on this page follow American Red Cross guidance.
After the thaw
Why frozen pipes leak after the ice melts
Water expands when it freezes. That can split a pipe while it’s still packed with ice, and the ice seals the crack until it melts. So the damage often shows up hours later, sometimes after you’ve stopped worrying about the cold.
Once temperatures rise, walk the house: look at ceilings and walls near exterior walls, under sinks and in the garage, and run the 15-minute meter test with all water off. If the meter moves, something is leaking.
Local conditions
Why Richardson pipes freeze
- Pipes in exterior walls and attics. Texas homes often run water lines through exterior walls, which get much colder than interior walls in a freeze, and attic lines are even more exposed.
- Power outages. When the heat goes off in a freeze, the whole house cools down, and pipes that are normally fine can freeze.
Winter Storm Uri showed what happens when both hit at once. During February 11 to 20, 2021, Richardson Public Services and Richardson Fire made 878 emergency water shutoffs, crews answered 26 water main breaks, and daily water use hit 32 million gallons, double the normal 16 million, as residents dripped faucets to protect their pipes.
Prevention
How to keep pipes from freezing
- Drain and store outdoor hoses, and close indoor valves that feed outdoor faucets
- Insulate exposed pipes in the attic, garage and under sinks with pipe sleeves or UL-listed heat tape
- Keep the garage door closed if water lines run through the garage
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors so warm air reaches the pipes
- Let cold water drip from faucets on exposed pipes when it’s very cold
- Keep the thermostat at the same setting day and night
- If you’re leaving, keep the heat no lower than 55 degrees
Get the full step-by-step list in our Richardson freeze checklist.
Insurance
Does insurance cover frozen pipe damage?
Usually, yes, when a pipe bursts inside the home. The Insurance Council of Texas says most Texas homeowner policies cover burst pipes, though limits and deductibles vary.
Read your policy’s freezing clause before you travel in cold weather. Many policies exclude freeze damage when the house was left unheated, unless the water was shut off and the lines were drained.
For the claim itself, see our insurance claim guide. For what the dry-out costs, see the cost guide.
Service area
Freeze damage help across Richardson
We serve every Richardson ZIP code: 75080, 75081 and 75082, on both the Dallas County and Collin County sides of the city.
Pipe broke for another reason? See burst pipe repair.
Related help: burst pipe cleanup, ceiling water damage and structural drying. For how past freezes hit the city, see Richardson water damage data.
Related guides: how to shut off your water · what to do when a pipe bursts.
FAQ
Frozen pipe FAQs
How do I know if a pipe is frozen?
If you turn on a faucet during a freeze and get only a trickle or nothing at all, the pipe feeding it is likely frozen. Check the pipes most exposed to cold first: lines in exterior walls, in the attic or garage, and where the water line enters the house.
How do I thaw a frozen pipe safely?
Keep the faucet open so water can flow as the ice melts, then warm the pipe with a hair dryer, an electric heating pad or towels soaked in hot water. Never use a blowtorch, propane or kerosene heater, or any open flame. Don’t use electrical devices near standing water, and call a plumber if you can’t reach or thaw the pipe.
Why do frozen pipes leak after they thaw?
Water expands as it freezes, which can split a pipe while it’s still full of ice. The ice plugs the crack, so nothing leaks until it melts. That’s why damage often appears hours or a day after the freeze breaks, and why you should check walls, ceilings and your water meter once temperatures rise.
Does insurance cover burst pipes from a freeze?
Usually, yes. The Insurance Council of Texas says most Texas homeowner policies cover burst pipes inside the home. Many policies have a freezing clause that excludes damage if the house was left unheated, unless the water was shut off and the lines drained, so check yours before a trip in cold weather.
What temperature should I keep my house at during a freeze?
The Red Cross says to keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night during a cold snap, and if you’re leaving, to keep the heat on no lower than 55 degrees.
Sources for this page
Last updated October 2026.
Pipe split in the freeze?
Shut off the main and call. Getting the water out and the drying started early is what keeps a freeze from becoming a rebuild.