Quick answer
A hard freeze in North Texas is rare but severe, as February 2021 showed, and it stresses both heating systems and plumbing at once. The best protection is preparation: a heater that's been serviced, a fresh filter, known shutoff valves, dripping faucets on the coldest nights, and a plan for backup heat. Knowing what to do before the freeze hits beats scrambling once it does.
- Get the heater serviced in fall so it's ready before the first hard freeze.
- Replace the filter, a hard-running furnace or heat pump needs clear airflow most when it's coldest.
- Know where your main water shutoff is before you need it.
- On the coldest nights, let faucets drip and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls.
- After a freeze, watch for slab-leak signs as the ground shifts, a spiking water bill or warm floor spot.
When this question matters
A hard freeze warning is in the forecast, or you remember the prolonged 2021 freeze and want to be ready next time. Because North Texas homes and systems are built for heat, not extended cold, a deep freeze stresses everything at once, the heater runs flat out while pipes face temperatures they rarely see. A little preparation in the days before makes a large difference.
Why our region is uniquely exposed
Collin County winters are mild enough that homes, pipes, and heating systems aren't built for sustained cold the way northern ones are. When a polar outbreak does arrive, equipment that coasts all winter is suddenly asked for everything, and plumbing in attics, exterior walls, and under slabs is exposed to freezing. The 2021 event made the cost of being unprepared painfully clear, which is why a little readiness pays off.
How it works
Protecting the heating system
Heading into winter, a fall tune-up confirms the furnace or heat pump is ready and the backup heat works. Keep a fresh filter in, a system running hard against deep cold needs unrestricted airflow most. If you have a heat pump, understand that it will lean on backup heat during a freeze, and don't be alarmed by defrost cycles. Set the thermostat to a steady temperature rather than big setbacks during the cold snap, so the system isn't trying to recover lost ground in the worst conditions.
Protecting the plumbing
Frozen pipes are the costliest freeze damage. Before a hard freeze, disconnect and drain garden hoses, cover outdoor spigots, and know where your main water shutoff is. On the coldest nights, let a couple of faucets drip to keep water moving and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes. Keep the house heated even in rooms you don't use, since pipes run through walls and attics throughout the home.
After the freeze: watch for slab leaks
North Texas's expansive clay soil swells and shrinks with big temperature and moisture swings, and that movement can stress the water lines beneath a slab. In the weeks after a major freeze, stay alert for slab-leak signs, an unexplained jump in the water bill, a warm spot on the floor, low pressure, or the sound of running water with everything off. Catching one early limits the damage and the repair.
What to watch for
If you wait until the freeze to prepare
Once a freeze is underway, supplies sell out, schedules fill, and a system that wasn't serviced is the one that fails on the coldest night. Preparation is a fall and pre-storm task, not a during-storm one. The homeowners who came through 2021 best were the ones who had serviced their heat and knew their shutoffs before the cold arrived.
If you ignore the aftermath
Freeze damage isn't always immediate, a stressed pipe or a slab line can start weeping days or weeks later as the ground settles back. Dismissing a small water-bill bump or a faint warm spot on the floor lets a slow leak run and damage the foundation. Treat post-freeze warning signs as worth a look, not a wait.
Why trust Burnside
- Burnside handles both HVAC and plumbing, so one trusted crew covers the whole house before and after a freeze.
- We've served Collin County since 1958 and know how local homes and pipes behave in a hard freeze.
- Licensed, insured technicians and flat-rate pricing approved before any work begins.
Reviewed by the Burnside team, serving Collin County since 1958 · Last updated June 25, 2026
Common questions
How do I keep my pipes from freezing in North Texas? +
Before a hard freeze, disconnect and drain hoses, cover outdoor spigots, and find your main water shutoff. On the coldest nights, let a couple of faucets drip and open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes. Keep the whole house heated, since pipes run through interior walls and attics.
Will my heat pump work during a freeze? +
A correctly set-up heat pump will, leaning on its backup heat during the coldest stretches, that's by design. Expect occasional defrost cycles where it briefly blows cooler air. If the house keeps losing warmth, the backup heat may not be engaging and it's worth a check before the cold deepens.
Should I worry about slab leaks after a freeze? +
It's worth staying alert. Our clay soil shifts with big temperature swings and can stress lines under the slab. In the weeks after a freeze, watch for a spiking water bill, a warm spot on the floor, low pressure, or running-water sounds with everything off, and have it checked early to limit damage.