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Pipe bursting right now? Do this first:
- Shut off your water main. At the meter by the curb (a meter key helps) or where the line enters the house — garage, near a hose bib, or utility area. This stops the flooding.
- Open faucets, hot and cold, to drain the remaining pressure in the lines.
- Cut the power to any area where water is near outlets or your electrical panel. If a water-heater line burst, kill power or gas to the heater.
- Move valuables out of the water's path and photograph everything for your insurance claim.
- Call a plumber — or submit the form on this page for a fast callback from a vetted Houston pro.
The shutoff in the first minute is the single biggest factor in how much damage you'll have. Find your main valve before you ever need it.
Why Houston pipes burst
Houston homes are built for 100-degree summers, not Arctic fronts — and that's exactly the vulnerability. Water lines here often run through uninsulated attics, exterior walls, and unconditioned garages, and outdoor hose bibs usually aren't freeze-proof. All of that is perfectly fine in normal weather and dangerously exposed when a hard freeze drops the region into the teens.
We've now seen it repeatedly: the February 2021 winter storm burst pipes citywide, and the recurring January Arctic fronts since have kept doing it. When water freezes it expands and splits the pipe — but the flood usually comes later, when it thaws and water pours through the crack. That delay is why a "we made it through the freeze" home can still flood a day after the temperature climbs back up.
What repair costs in Houston — 2026
| Scope | Typical Houston range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Thaw a frozen pipe (no break) | $100–$350 |
| Single burst-pipe repair (accessible) | $250–$1,000 |
| Multiple breaks / in-wall / repipe a section | $1,000–$5,000+ |
| Resulting water damage (drywall, floors, mold) — separate, often insurance | $5,000–$10,000+ |
The pipe repair is usually the small number. The average Texas freeze-related insurance claim tops $10,000 once water damage is counted — which is why shutting off fast and documenting for your claim matters as much as the fix itself.
If it keeps happening — it might be the pipes themselves
One burst from a once-a-decade freeze is bad luck. Repeated failures — pinhole leaks, bursts in multiple spots, lines that fail at the first cold snap every year — often point to aging or failing pipe material like old galvanized or polybutylene. At that point, patching one break at a time is more expensive than fixing the root cause. See our whole-home repipe guide for when replacement is the smarter money.
Prevent it before the next freeze
Houston freeze prevention is cheap and genuinely effective. When a freeze is in the forecast:
- Drip your faucets — a slow drip (hot and cold) on vulnerable lines keeps water moving and relieves pressure.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm room air reaches the pipes.
- Disconnect and cover hose bibs — outdoor faucets are the most common burst point; foam covers cost a few dollars.
- Insulate exposed pipe in the attic, garage, and crawlspaces with foam sleeves.
- Know (and test) your main shutoff so you can stop a flood in seconds.
- Leaving town? Keep the heat at 55°F+ and consider shutting off the main and draining the lines.
Does insurance cover it?
Generally yes — a sudden burst pipe and the water damage it causes are typically covered under standard Texas homeowners policies. The exception is negligence, like leaving a vacant home unheated through a freeze. Protect your claim: photograph everything before cleanup, mitigate further damage (shut off water, start drying), keep receipts, and file early — after a region-wide freeze, adjusters are overwhelmed within days. A vetted plumber documents the repair in a way that supports the claim.
How we vet Houston plumbers
Freeze events bring out storm-chasers and unlicensed operators. Before any plumber receives a single lead from us, we confirm:
- Active Texas Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) license — verified against the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) register.
- Current general liability insurance — checked, not just claimed.
- A review history of 4 stars or better across Google and the BBB.
- No unresolved TSBPE complaints — clean standing with the state board.
- Houston service coverage — local crews who answer during freeze events, not out-of-town chasers.
Quotes from partner pros are honored, and the diagnosis is explained before any work — even in an emergency.
Frequently asked
What do I do the moment a pipe bursts?
Shut off your main water valve first — that stops the flooding. Then open faucets (hot and cold) to drain the remaining pressure, and turn off the electricity to any area where water is near outlets or the panel. If it's a water-heater or supply line, kill power or gas to the water heater too. Move valuables out of the water's path, take photos for insurance, and call a plumber. Doing the shutoff in the first 60 seconds is the single biggest factor in how much damage you end up with.
How much does burst pipe repair cost in Houston?
Thawing a frozen pipe that hasn't broken runs about $100–$350. Repairing a single accessible burst runs $250–$1,000. Multiple breaks, in-wall pipes, or repiping a damaged section can run $1,000–$5,000+. The plumbing repair, though, is usually the smaller number — the water damage to drywall, flooring, and belongings is where it gets expensive. The average Texas freeze-related claim runs over $10,000, which is why fast shutoff and an insurance claim matter as much as the pipe fix.
How do I prevent frozen pipes in Houston?
Houston homes are built for heat, not cold, so a hard freeze catches exposed pipes off guard. Before a freeze: let faucets drip (moving water resists freezing), open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls, disconnect and cover outdoor hose bibs, insulate exposed pipes in the attic and garage, and know where your main shutoff is. If you'll be away, leave the heat on at 55°F or higher. These steps cost almost nothing and prevent the thousands a burst pipe costs.
Does homeowners insurance cover burst pipes?
Usually yes — a sudden burst pipe and the resulting water damage are typically covered under standard Texas homeowners policies, since it's 'sudden and accidental.' What can be denied is damage from negligence, like leaving a vacant home unheated through a freeze. Document everything with photos before cleanup, mitigate further damage (shut off the water, start drying), keep receipts, and file promptly. After a region-wide freeze, file early — adjusters get swamped fast.
Why do Houston pipes freeze and burst so easily?
Because they're not built for it. In colder climates, water lines are run deep and inside insulated envelopes. In Houston, pipes often run through uninsulated attics, exterior walls, and unconditioned garages, and outdoor hose bibs aren't freeze-proof — all fine for our normal weather, all vulnerable when an Arctic front drops us into the teens. When water freezes it expands, and that expansion splits the pipe; the flooding happens when it thaws and water flows through the crack.
Where is my main water shutoff?
In most Houston homes it's one of two places: at the water meter near the street/curb (you may need a meter key to turn the valve), or where the main line enters the house — often near an exterior hose bib, in the garage, or in a utility area. Find it now, before an emergency, and make sure it turns. Knowing this one location, and being able to operate it, is the difference between a mop-up and a five-figure claim.
Should I leave faucets dripping during a freeze?
Yes — a slow drip on faucets served by vulnerable pipes (especially those on exterior walls) keeps water moving, which resists freezing and relieves the pressure that actually bursts pipes. Drip both hot and cold. Combine it with opening cabinet doors so warm room air reaches the pipes, and covering outdoor hose bibs. It's the cheapest insurance there is against a Houston freeze.
Burst or frozen pipe? Get a plumber on it fast.
Shut off your main, then drop your number and ZIP at the top of this page. A vetted Houston plumber calls you back within 30 minutes during business hours, walks you through stopping the damage, and gets the repair scheduled. Serving Houston and the surrounding neighborhoods.
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