Article Source: Woodlands Water
Updated January 21, 2026 at 6:21 pm.
FREEZE PROTECTION FOR HOME AND LANDSCAPE
For the Home
Prior to Freezing Weather
Drain and winterize your irrigation backflow preventer
Drain and winterize your irrigation backflow preventer. Avoid costly repairs and disruption in your water service. Learn how to perform this simple but essential step here.
Insulate exposed pipes
Insulate pipes in unheated and drafty areas, such as an attic or garage. Hardware and plumbing supply stores carry insulation to help keep pipes from freezing. Also, check manufacturer recommendations for your water heater.
Locate your water main shutoff valve and make sure it works
Shut off valves are critical for stopping the flow of water in an emergency (the first step in responding to a leak). Before it freezes, locate your house’s water main shutoff valve and turn it on and off to ensure it works. Keep it accessible and clear of obstacles. Shutoff valves are commonly found on either an interior or exterior wall of the home.
Prepare outside faucets
Remove all connected hoses and wrap faucets with towels or install Styrofoam insulators.
Prepare before leaving town
If you plan to be away during the freeze, turn your water off at the house main water shutoff valve (commonly located between the garage and laundry room), open faucets to drain water and leave them open, open cabinet doors below all sinks, and set your thermostat to 65 degrees or higher. Be sure you’re signed up for leak alerts from WaterSmart so you don’t come home to a disaster.
During Freezing Weather
Slow drip your faucets
For prolonged freezes The Texas Department of Insurance recommends allowing outdoor spigots to drip slowly. At night, let indoor faucets drip slowly from hot and cold.
Keep the thermostat at room temperature, day and night
Avoid turning down at night (a higher energy bill will still be cheaper than repairing frozen pipes).
Protect indoor faucets
Open cabinet doors beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warm air to circulate around pipes. Be sure to remove any toxic substances located in these cabinets if there are children or pets living in the residence.
Keep interior doors open
Do not isolate rooms by closing doors. This can make those areas more likely to freeze.
Keep garage doors closed. This will help retain heat.
Run pool pump or place in "antifreeze" mode if available
Bring pets inside
Be ready for an emergency
If pipes freeze, turn off water at the house water main shut-off valve to prevent pipes from leaking into the home after they thaw. Do not shut water off at the meter box.
Contact Woodlands Water at (855) H20-SAVE (436-7283) if you need assistance shutting off your water during an emergency.
For the Landscape
Prior to Freezing Weather
Mulch
Apply 3-4 inches of organic mulch (such as straw, leaves, or bark) around the base of plants. Mulch helps insulate the soil and retain heat.
Water
Water plants thoroughly before a freeze. Moist soil retains heat better than dry soil, protecting plants roots. Be careful to not to overwater so you avoid root rot. Water early in the day so that the soil has time to absorb moisture before temperatures drop.
Cover
Use frost blankets, old blankets, burlap, or even inverted buckets or pots to cover vulnerable plants. Make sure the cover extends to the ground to trap the heat radiating from the soil. Plastic works, too, but be sure to remove it during the day to avoid overheating your plants.
Install windbreaks
Wind can maginfy the effects of cold temperatures. Install temporary windbreaks, such as burlap or plastic barriers, on the windward side of vulnerable plants to reduce the impact of cold winds.
Move Potted Plants
Where possible, move potted plants to a sheltered location, such as a garage or covered porch.
* Plan for future freezes by selecting native plants for your landscape. They tolerate extreme weather, winter and summer, much better than non-natives.
After a Freeze
Water plants
After a freeze, especially on a sunny day, plants can lose water because the water in the soil or container medium is frozen. Watering plants also helps thaw the soil.
Be careful with pruning
After a freeze, you can remove dead leaves once they turn brown. Wait to do any severe pruning until new growth appears and the there is no risk of additional freezes. Pruning too soon will make them more susceptible to damage should it freeze again.
Be certain before replacing “dead” plants
Some plants take longer to show signs than others after a freeze. Wait a couple months into the growing season before assuming a plant is dead. Large shrubs and trees may take even longer. Consider consulting an arborist before removing a tree.
