In February 2021, DFW Airport reached −2°F and stayed at or below freezing for 139 consecutive hours, per the National Weather Service. Widespread power outages left many homes without heat, and pipes burst across the region.
Lessons
- Know where your main shut-off is, and own the curb key if it is in the meter box.
- Pipes in exterior walls, attics, and garages are the most vulnerable.
- Breaks often show up when pipes thaw, so check the house as temperatures rise.
- Plumbers and restoration crews get very busy after a regional freeze; act quickly to stop and document damage.
- Keep photos of your home and your policy declarations page in the cloud.
After a freeze
- Walk the house as it warms: ceilings, walls with plumbing, the attic, and the garage.
- Check the meter with everything off.
- If water is leaking, close the main and call a licensed plumber.
- Ask a restoration contractor for moisture readings before walls are closed.
Related: water damage · slab leaks · frozen pipes · hail and roof leaks · flash floods · mold · guides
Guides: What Winter Storm Uri Taught DFW Homeowners · Hard Freeze Prep Checklist for DFW Homes · Documenting Hail and Storm Damage in North Texas · Clay Soil, Foundations, and Hidden Leaks
Request a referral
Four fields. We will call you back and refer you to an independent contractor. Our call line is coming soon.
Need a restoration contractor in Dallas–Fort Worth?
Tell us what happened and we will refer you to an independent contractor.