Published 2026-11-11 · Updated 2026-11-11
Before the first freeze: pipes, outdoor faucets and sprinklers in Austin
When Austin's first freeze usually arrives, what Austin Water asks you to do before it, how to drip a faucet and what to do if a pipe freezes or bursts.
Austin's first freeze usually comes around Thanksgiving or the first days of December, so mid-November is the time to get ready. Over 1991 to 2020, the first freeze at Camp Mabry came on December 1 on average, and over more than 120 years of records, on November 29. The earliest came on October 26, 1924. Getting ready takes an afternoon: find your shutoff valve, cover what's outside, and turn off the sprinklers.
Where you live matters too. The National Weather Service counts about 12 days a year below freezing at Camp Mabry, in central Austin, but about 33 at Austin-Bergstrom airport, to the east. Homes in low, open or rural spots usually get colder than the city's official reading.
First, find your shutoff valve
Austin Water asks every household to know where the main water shutoff valve is and to keep it clear. For most homes, the owner's shutoff valve is on your side of the water meter, in the meter box.
If you can't find it, or it's damaged, use the City shutoff valve in the meter box. You may need a water meter key, which most hardware stores sell. Renters should ask their property manager where theirs is before a freeze, not during one.
Before the freeze
- Insulate pipes in unheated or drafty spaces, such as the attic, the garage and a crawl space. Hardware and plumbing supply stores sell pipe insulation, and it runs out before a storm.
- Turn off outside faucets and remove hoses. Then cover each outdoor faucet with a foam faucet cover or towels.
- Turn off and drain the sprinkler system. Austin Water asks all customers to turn irrigation off for the winter.
- Protect the backflow preventer. On most sprinkler systems it's the brass assembly near the house, above the ground and full of water. Austin typically requires one on irrigation systems, and it's subject to annual testing by a state-licensed tester registered with the city. Once the system is drained, wrap the assembly so it doesn't crack. If one does crack, it must be replaced with an approved design.
- Check your water heater's instructions. Austin Water asks owners to follow the manufacturer's freeze guidance for tank and tankless heaters. Many tankless units protect themselves with built-in heaters that need power, so look up what yours needs in an outage.
When freezing weather arrives
- Drip one faucet, if needed. Austin Water asks for one faucet only: the cold-water faucet farthest from your main shutoff valve, dripping slowly, and only if you think your pipes may still freeze. Catch the water to use later.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls, so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Leaving town? Turn off the water at the meter and set the thermostat to 65°F or higher.
- Keep water on hand. The City asks every household to store at least 1 gallon per person, and per pet, per day for seven days.
If a pipe freezes or bursts
A trickle of water, or none at all, can mean a frozen pipe or meter. Austin Water's steps:
- If a pipe may have burst, turn off the water at the shutoff valve to stop the flooding.
- Open a faucet near the frozen section, so steam and water have somewhere to go as it thaws.
- Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, an electric heating pad or warm towels. Never use an open flame.
- Once water flows, check the pipe for cracks or leaks. If you find one, turn off the water at the shutoff valve again.
- If these steps don't work, call a licensed plumber or your property manager.
Austin Water's 24-hour emergency line is 512-972-1000, option 1, and 3-1-1 covers other city services. If another city or a water district supplies your water, keep its emergency number on the fridge before the freeze.
Take photos of any damage before cleanup, and keep the plumber's invoice. An insurance claim usually needs both.
Where Completa fits
Pipe insulation, a frost-proof outdoor faucet and sprinkler winterizing are easiest to book before the first cold front. For planned work, you see your estimate before anyone comes out. For a leak or a burst pipe, you see the visit fee before a pro comes to find it. Either way, you pick a local pro, and the finished job is saved to your home's record.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first freeze in Austin?
On average around December 1 at Camp Mabry, based on 1991 to 2020, and November 29 over the full record of more than 120 years. The earliest first freeze on record was October 26, 1924. East Austin near the airport freezes far more often than central Austin.
Should I drip my faucets in Austin during a freeze?
Austin Water asks for one faucet only, and only if you think your pipes may still freeze: let one cold-water faucet drip slowly, the one farthest from your main shutoff valve, and catch the water to use later.
Should I turn off my sprinkler system for the winter in Austin?
Yes. Austin Water asks all customers to turn off irrigation systems during the winter, and to turn off and drain automatic sprinkler systems before a freeze.
What should I do if a pipe freezes?
If a pipe may have burst, turn off the water at the shutoff valve first. Open a faucet near the frozen section and warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, heating pad or warm towels, never an open flame. Once water flows, check the pipe for cracks. If that doesn't work, call a licensed plumber.