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what temp to drip faucets texas

For most Texas homes, the common guidance is to start dripping indoor faucets when the outside temperature is expected to drop to around 20°F or lower for several hours, especially overnight.

Quick Scoop: Key Temps & Basics

  • Start dripping faucets if:
    • Forecast lows are around 20°F or below for several hours, or
    • It will be below 32°F for a long stretch and your pipes are in uninsulated/exposed areas (pier‑and‑beam homes, attic, exterior walls).
  • Focus on:
    • Faucets on exterior walls.
    • Fixtures above unheated spaces (garages, crawl spaces).
    • The faucet farthest from your meter, so water moves through the longest run of pipe.

In Texas, a lot of plumbing runs in slabs or exposed under houses, which makes it more vulnerable than in many northern homes.

How Much To Drip

You do not need a full stream in most cases.

  • Aim for a steady drip or light trickle :
    • Think “drip…drip…drip” at a walking tempo, not a blast.
* Roughly one drop every few seconds is often enough in a typical insulated home.
  • If your house is on a raised foundation with open, windy crawlspace, you can turn it up to a thin stream during the coldest hours.

This keeps water moving just enough to lower the chance of freezing while avoiding major water waste.

Hot vs Cold, And Which Faucets

Experts in Texas advise moving water through both hot and cold lines.

  • Drip both hot and cold:
    • Two‑handle faucet: open both sides slightly so both hot and cold drip.
* Single‑handle faucet: set the handle in the middle for lukewarm so both lines get flow.
  • Prioritize:
    • Indoor sinks on exterior walls.
    • Faucets in colder parts of the house (near drafty windows, over unheated garages).
  • If you have a tankless heater, people in local Texas forums still report dripping both lines, but you may need a slightly higher flow so the heater can cycle without short‑cycling issues.

Some Texas water utilities (like Houston Public Works) warn that in certain systems that rely on pumps, universal dripping can hurt pressure, so always check your local city or utility advisories before a big freeze.

Extra Pipe‑Protection Moves

Along with dripping, plumbers and safety organizations suggest a few other simple steps in Texas freezes.

  • Keep home heat at or above about 55°F, even at night.
  • Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air can reach pipes.
  • Disconnect hoses and shut off/drain outdoor faucets.
  • Add foam insulation or heat tape to exposed pipes where you can safely reach them.
  • Close up drafts around doors, windows, and where pipes penetrate walls.

A common Texas scenario: it’s forecast to hit 18°F in the early morning, with several hours below freezing. You’d start a slow drip on key faucets before going to bed, open sink cabinets, and keep the thermostat up through the night.

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Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.