Guide
Winter freezes and burst pipes in Kyle
Central Texas freezes are rare and short. That is why pipes in attics and exterior walls are often unprotected when one arrives.
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February 2021
The National Weather Service's Austin and San Antonio office calls the storm of 10 to 18 February 2021 an unprecedented and historical eight-day period of winter weather in South-Central Texas. Its summary says the event had catastrophic impacts across Texas, including failed power grids, burst water pipes and limited road and air travel.
For many homeowners the damage came after the thaw, when water began to flow through lines that had split.
After a hard freeze
Walk the house before the thaw ends
Look for wet ceilings, damp walls on the outside of the house and running water where none should run.
Know the main shut-off
Locate it before you need it. Close it if you see water.
Check the water meter
With every fixture off, a moving meter dial means water is escaping somewhere.
Document before you dry
Photograph splits, wet insulation and damage. Keep any pipe sections a plumber removes.
Call for the water damage
A plumber fixes the pipe. The restoration line connects you with a contractor for the water in the house.
Insurance note
Sudden bursts are the kind of water loss most Texas home policies cover. TDI says to report promptly and to protect the property from further damage.
What the weather service recorded
The National Weather Service says many areas along and near Interstate 35 reported 3 to 8 inches of snow in the mid-February storm, and that widespread areas recorded up to 0.25 inches of ice, with higher amounts on surfaces already iced or snow-covered. Climate sites in the region saw 5 to 6 consecutive days of temperature records.
A freeze that runs for days is a different event from one cold night, and the pipes the house needs most are the ones that sat in the cold the longest.
Outages and pipes
Pedernales Electric Cooperative's outage guidance for winter says to wrap up in layers and that filling containers with water and draining pipes can keep pipes from bursting. Whether to drain a house is a plumber's call, and a drained system needs refilling and checking afterward.
TDI says many policies pay for damage to a house caused by a frozen pipe that burst, with some limitations. Ask your agent or company what yours says.
Water is still moving. Call now.
One call connects you with an independent restoration contractor who serves the Kyle area. Then you decide what happens next.