Oklahoma winters swing hard. It can be 60 degrees one afternoon and well below freezing two nights later, sometimes with ice and wind on top of it. Moore homes aren’t built like homes up north, and many have pipes in attics, garages and outside walls that don’t see much cold the rest of the year. A little prep before the first hard freeze can save you a burst pipe and a soaked ceiling. Here’s what we tell homeowners around Moore.
In the Moore area, the long-term climate record says a typical first freeze (32°F) falls around early November, and a typical first hard freeze (28°F) around mid-November. Those are the median dates from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at the Norman 2NW Mesonet, about six miles from Moore: November 5 for the first freeze and November 14 for the first hard freeze. About one year in ten, a freeze arrives by October 21 and a hard freeze by October 30. Most years have seen a freeze by November 19 and a hard freeze by December 2. Those are historical odds, not a forecast for this winter, and later cold snaps through January still burst pipes.
Why pipes burst in a freeze
Water expands when it freezes. When it freezes inside a pipe, the pressure builds between the ice and a closed faucet until something gives. Often the split shows up somewhere other than the frozen spot, and you don’t find out until the line thaws and water starts running. That’s why the leak often appears the day after the coldest night, not during it.
The pipes most at risk are the ones exposed to outside air: outdoor faucets, lines in the attic or garage, pipes in outside walls and under sinks on outside walls.
Outdoor faucets and hoses
- Disconnect garden hoses. A hose left attached traps water in the faucet, and that water can freeze and split the pipe behind the wall.
- Cover outdoor faucets. An insulated faucet cover from the hardware store is cheap and works well for most nights.
- Know which faucets have a shutoff inside. If yours has one, close it and open the outside faucet to drain the line.
- Check for drips. A faucet that already drips can freeze faster and is worth getting repaired before winter.
Attic, garage and exposed lines
Many Moore homes have water lines in the attic, especially homes that have been repiped or had a slab leak rerouted. Attic lines are fine in winter when they’re insulated properly. Every attic line PlumbWorX runs is insulated for that reason.
- Look for bare pipe in the attic, garage or crawl areas and add foam pipe insulation where you can reach it safely.
- Seal gaps where cold air blows onto pipes, like openings around vents or where lines enter the house.
- Keep the garage door closed on cold nights if the water heater or water lines are in the garage.
If your home has older lines that keep giving you trouble, a repipe may be worth a conversation. You can read about our repiping in Moore. Repipes come with a 5-year PlumbWorX parts and labor warranty under normal use. Damage from rodents, cuts or other outside causes isn’t covered.
Inside the house on freezing nights
- Let faucets on outside walls drip. A slow drip of both hot and cold keeps water moving and relieves pressure.
- Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on outside walls so warm air can reach the pipes.
- Keep the heat steady. Don’t drop the thermostat way down at night or while you’re away. If you’re traveling, leave the heat on.
- Know where your main shutoff is. Find it now, make sure it turns, and show everyone in the house. If a pipe bursts, turning the water off fast is the single biggest thing that limits damage.
Your water heater in winter
Cold weather makes your water heater work harder because the water coming in is colder. A few things help:
- If the heater is in the garage or attic, make sure nearby lines are insulated.
- Keep the area around a gas water heater clear so it can get the air it needs.
- Pay attention to changes: rumbling, water that won’t get hot, or water around the base. Those are worth a look before the coldest weeks.
If something isn’t right, see our water heater repair in Moore. If it’s time to replace the unit, estimates on water heater replacement are free.
If a pipe freezes
- If a faucet only trickles or nothing comes out on a cold morning, a line may be frozen. Leave that faucet open.
- Warm the area gently with a hair dryer or a space heater kept a safe distance away. Never use an open flame.
- Check for leaks as it thaws, and be ready to shut off the main if you see water.
- If you can’t find the frozen spot or can’t reach it, call a plumber.
If a pipe bursts
- Turn off the main water shutoff right away.
- If water is near outlets, lights or appliances, stay clear and shut off power to that area if it’s safe to do so.
- Open faucets to drain the remaining water out of the lines.
- Take photos for your insurance company.
- Call PlumbWorX and tell us what you’re seeing.
For more on burst-pipe repair in Moore, see our burst pipe repair page.
If water is leaking from a meter box or coming up in the street, call the City of Moore’s after-hours water and sewer line at (405) 793-5080. The city also points residents to the American Red Cross guide on preventing frozen pipes.
Call PlumbWorX before or after the freeze
Whether you want help getting ready or a pipe has already let go, call PlumbWorX at (405) 847-9809. We're 24/7, licensed and insured (CIB #191617), and based at 101 Barbour St in Moore. Our service call is $89, and it’s waived when we do the work. Repairs come with a 1-year warranty on our labor, and parts carry the manufacturer’s warranty.
The same freeze steps apply in the other cities we serve, including Oklahoma City, Norman, and Edmond. Call (405) 847-9809 if you have questions about your home.