With an arctic blast set to settle over Austin this weekend, sending temperatures plunging into the teens through Tuesday morning, it’s time to play a high-stakes game of "Don’t Burst My Bubble." In Texas, our plumbing wasn't exactly built for the tundra, so proactive preparation is the only thing standing between you and a very expensive indoor swimming pool.

To keep your home safe, ensure the following steps are completed by Saturday afternoon (1/24/26).

The Exterior Defense

Your outdoor faucets are the most vulnerable soldiers on the front line. They are directly exposed to the biting wind and sub-zero wind chills.

  • Cover All Outdoor Faucets: This includes the ones on the side of the house and the often-forgotten spigot in the back near your AC unit. Use insulated Styrofoam covers, or in a pinch, wrap them deeply in old towels followed by a plastic bag secured with duct tape.
  • The Survival Drip: Turn on those outdoor faucets to allow a continuous drip (roughly 2–3 drops per second). Moving water is significantly harder to freeze than static water, and this slow release prevents pressure from building up to a breaking point.

The Interior Strategy

Inside the house, your goal is to let your home's warmth reach the hidden "veins" behind your walls.

  • Open the Gates: Leave your sink cabinet doors wide open in the kitchen, all bathrooms, and the half bath near the front door. This allows the ambient heat from your furnace to circulate around the pipes that are otherwise tucked away in cold, dark corners.
  • Targeted Overnight Flow: When the mercury hits its lowest point (Sunday night through Tuesday morning), turn on the kitchen and half-bath sinks. A slow, steady drip of 1–2 drops per second ensures that the water remains in motion during the most dangerous hours of the freeze.

The "Drip" Debate: Your Home vs. The City

You may have seen notices from the City of Austin Utilities advising homeowners not to let their faucets drip. It’s important to understand the perspective behind that advice.

The City’s primary concern is the integrity of the municipal water system. When tens of thousands of homes drip simultaneously, the overall water pressure in the city’s mains can drop. Low pressure can lead to two major issues for the City:

  • Firefighting Risks: Reduced pressure makes it harder for firefighters to get the flow they need from hydrants.
  • Boil Water Notices: If pressure drops too low, the risk of bacterial contamination increases, often triggering city-wide boil water mandates.

However, what is in the City's best interest is rarely in yours. While the City wants to protect the "macro" system, you need to protect your "micro" reality. If your pipes freeze and burst, the City isn't paying for your $5,000 plumbing repair or the thousands of dollars in water damage to your flooring and drywall.

Plumber’s Pro-Tip: A burst pipe releases significantly more water in an hour than a dripping faucet does in an entire week. By dripping your faucets, you are performing a necessary "pressure relief" for your home’s specific plumbing. It’s a small insurance policy for your most valuable asset.

Final Checklist

[ ] Outdoor faucets covered and dripping (2–3 drops/sec).

[ ] Indoor cabinets open (Kitchen/All Baths).

[ ] Indoor sinks set to drip overnight (1–2 drops/sec).

[ ] Main water shut-off valve located (just in case!).