Overview
- Houston remains under an extreme cold warning through Tuesday, and plumbers caution that conditions are improving but the danger of pipe failures is not over.
- Guidance converges on keeping water moving with at least a steady drip, escalating to a pencil‑thin stream in the teens, prioritizing fixtures on exterior walls and running both hot and cold where possible.
- Homeowners are urged to disconnect hoses, cover outdoor faucets with covers or towels, open sink cabinets, maintain indoor heat, and drip the fixture farthest from the main shutoff to move water through the system.
- If faucets stop or pressure drops, shut off the home’s main valve before any thawing attempts, leave faucets open to relieve pressure, avoid open flames or aggressive heating, and expect repair delays as calls surge during the warmup.
- Watch for signs of frozen or failing lines such as no flow, slow drains, unusual pipe noises, frost on exposed runs, or new stains during the thaw, and note that many homeowners policies cover sudden water damage from burst pipes.