Frozen Pipes in Longview, TX What to Do Before, During and After a Hard Freeze
Longview winters are usually mild, which is why a hard freeze does so much damage. Many homes here were not built for it. These steps protect your pipes, and tell you what to do if one splits.
Why hard freezes hit Longview homes so hard
In a normal January, Longview’s average low is about 37°F, so many pipes run through crawl spaces, garages, attics and outside walls with little insulation. Then the rare hard freeze arrives.
Winter Storm Uri, February 2021
- 15 February: the high was only 18°F, the lowest February high on record in Longview
- 16 February: Longview fell to −5°F, its coldest temperature on record (records go back to 1902)
- Two snowstorms in one week: about 8 inches, then about 3 inches more
- A city official later counted more than 60 leaks from that freeze
Power was also cut in rolling outages that week. Longview’s electricity comes through SWEPCO, which is part of the Southwest Power Pool, not ERCOT.
Before a hard freeze: the City of Longview checklist
- Know where your main shut-off valve is. If you don’t have one, have one installed.
- Remove garden hoses and wrap outdoor faucets (spickets).
- Wrap pipes in crawl spaces, garages and under porches. Use heat tape on pipes that have frozen before.
- Drain sprinkler and irrigation lines.
- Open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
- Let cold water drip at the faucet farthest from where the water enters the house.
- If snow is forecast, mark where your water meter is, so it can be found.
- Away or vacant home: turn off the water heater and the main valve, and drain the lines.
During a freeze: a pipe is frozen
Signs: a faucet gives a trickle or nothing, frost on an exposed pipe, or a bulge in a pipe.
- Keep the faucet open, so water can flow as the ice melts.
- Warm the pipe with rags soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame or a hair dryer. (City of Longview)
- Start near the faucet and work back toward the frozen section.
- If you can’t find or reach the frozen section, call.
After a freeze: a pipe has burst
A split pipe often starts leaking only when the ice melts, so watch for water as it warms up.
- Close your main shut-off valve right away.
- Turn off the water heater (power or gas).
- Turn off power to wet areas at the breaker, if it is safe to reach.
- Call (903) 212-9500 and take photos for your insurance.
Don’t turn the city’s valve at the meter. It is on the city side and is city property; turning it yourself can bring a tampering fine. Use your own shut-off.
The pipes that freeze first
- Outdoor faucets and the pipe just behind them
- Pipes in a crawl space, especially near vents
- Pipes in an unheated garage or attic, including attic water heater lines
- Kitchen and bathroom pipes on outside walls
- Sprinkler lines and backflow devices
Why is my water pressure low during a freeze?
During the 2021 storm, the City of Longview explained that every water system loses some pressure when many people leave faucets running. Low pressure across your whole street during a freeze is usually the city system. No water at one faucet while others work usually means a frozen pipe in your home.
Frozen pipe questions
At what temperature do pipes freeze?
University of Illinois Building Research Council tests found unprotected pipes in unheated spaces start to freeze when the outside temperature falls to about 20°F. In Longview, take the freeze steps whenever a hard freeze is forecast.
Should I drip my faucets?
Yes, a slow drip of cold water at the faucet farthest from where water enters the house, as the City advises.
Can a frozen pipe thaw by itself?
It can, but it may already be split. Watch for leaks as it thaws, and keep the main shut-off within reach.
Will insurance pay for a burst pipe?
Often for sudden damage, but policies differ, and some exclude empty or unheated homes. Check yours before winter.
I’m leaving town in winter. What should I do?
Turn off the water heater and the main valve, and drain the lines, as the City’s freeze plan advises.
Pipe burst in the freeze?
Close the main valve, then call. Calls answered 24/7.
