This winter’s freeze-thaw cycle triggers home water main failures across luxury neighborhoods
SOUTHLAKE, TX, UNITED STATES, February 24, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Southlake homeowners are dealing with an unexpected aftermath from January and February’s freezing weather: broken water mains buried on their properties.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area experienced multiple freezing events over the past two months, with temperatures dropping into the teens and low twenties.
CBS and other local news affiliates reported a 900% surge in plumbing repair calls for broken water lines across the Metroplex since the thaw began.
Southlake has seen particularly high concentrations of these failures. The breaks are happening regardless of home value or age—from 1990s-era homes in Timarron to estates in Lakes of La Paloma.
Many local homeowners attribute this damage to frozen pipes. But local plumbing experts say this is a myth.
“Your pipe didn’t freeze—that’s a misconception,” says Steven Smith, Responsible Master Plumber at Mother Modern Plumbing. “It’s buried below the frost line. But moisture swells the soil well below the frost line—that’s what broke your water pipe.”
The real problem is how Southlake’s expansive black clay soil responds to freeze-thaw cycles. This soil naturally shrinks when dry and swells when wet—a characteristic that causes foundation issues across North Texas. Freezing events amplify this cycle dramatically.
When temperatures drop below freezing, moisture in the soil freezes and the ground contracts. This creates tight pressure around buried pipes. As temperatures rise and the ground thaws, two things happen: either gaps form in the soil as it expands unevenly, or the swelling soil exerts enormous pressure on anything buried within it.
That pressure—up to 10,000 pounds per square foot—exceeds what most buried pipes can withstand over time.
“If you roll a 40-ton semi truck over a credit card, that’s 10,000 PSI of pressure,” Smith explains. “That’s what the pipes in your backyard are going through.”
Even modern materials eventually fail under these conditions. Older pipes with existing corrosion, small cracks, or root intrusions are particularly vulnerable.
Southlake’s Timarron neighborhood exemplifies this risk. Homes built in the 1990s sit on water lines that are now 30-plus years old. Many of these lines were installed with materials like galvanized steel or older copper that have degraded over decades. The recent freeze-thaw cycle acted as a final stress test that many of these aging pipes failed.
The most vulnerable spot is where underground water lines connect to pipes inside the home. As lines pass through the frost line at the foundation, they encounter what plumbers call a “shear point.” Here, the pipe experiences pressure from multiple directions as soil above and below moves at different rates. The result can literally tear a pipe in half.
Homeowners discovering water pooling in their yards or experiencing sudden pressure drops face a critical decision about how to locate the break.
Traditional methods involve exploratory digging—trenching across the yard until the damaged section is found.
Smith advises against this approach. “If your plumber mentions exploratory digging, get another plumber. You can find a leak or break without digging—you’re already dealing with enough property damage.”
Modern, non-invasive leak detection uses electronic acoustic equipment to listen for the sound of water escaping from pressurized lines. Technicians can pinpoint leak locations within inches without disturbing the property. The process typically takes one to two hours and prevents unnecessary excavation.
For accessible sections of pipe, camera inspection provides visual confirmation of damage location and extent.
The technology is particularly valuable in Southlake’s landscaped properties, where exploratory digging could damage expensive hardscaping, irrigation systems, and mature plantings.
For Southlake homeowners dealing with broken water mains, the message from plumbing professionals is clear: the damage isn’t a reflection of home quality or owner negligence. It’s the inevitable result of extreme weather conditions acting on expansive soil and aging infrastructure.
“People think if their water pipes break, they did something wrong,” Smith says. “They didn’t. After a major freeze, there’s nothing you can do. That’s just nature.”
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About Mother Modern Plumbing
Mother Modern Plumbing is a residential plumbing company based in Dallas-Fort Worth. The company provides diagnostic services including electronic leak detection throughout the metro area. These non-invasive detection services reflect Mother’s commitment to tech-driven options for the modern homeowner. Learn more at callmother.com.
Matthew Silkwood
Mother Modern Plumbing
+1 9792201702
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