A copper pipe end coated in frost and ice after a hard freeze

Two Very Different Leaks

A burst pipe is loud and obvious: water under pressure pours out of a wall, a ceiling or a cabinet until someone shuts off the main. A slab leak is the opposite. A water line under the concrete foundation develops a pinhole or a crack, and water seeps up slowly through the slab, into the flooring and the base of the walls. Both are common in Kyle homes, which mostly sit on slabs poured over expansive clay. Either way, the water has to come out, the source has to be repaired, and the floor and walls have to be dried with readings.

Frozen and Burst Pipes in Texas Homes

Central Texas doesn't freeze often, so many homes aren't built for it. Pipes in attics, exterior walls and unheated garages are the ones that split. During Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, Kyle's own water system had burst mains and the city told residents its supply was nearly exhausted, while homes across the area found split lines when the thaw came. That's the usual pattern: the pipe freezes and cracks in the cold, then leaks when the ice melts. A frozen pipe burst in an attic can soak a ceiling, the insulation and the walls below before anyone notices.

Signs of a Slab Leak

Sign	Why it happens
A warm spot on a tile or concrete floor	A hot-water line leaking under the slab
The sound of running water with everything off	Water escaping under pressure
A water bill that jumped	Water running continuously
Damp carpet, swollen laminate or wet baseboards with no visible source	Water rising through the slab
Cracks in flooring or walls, or doors that stick	Soil movement, sometimes from leaking water

More on why Kyle's soil matters: slab leaks and foundation water damage on clay soil.

Foundation Water Damage on Clay

Much of the ground around Kyle is clay that swells when it's wet and shrinks when it dries. A slab leak can wet the soil under one part of the house, change how it supports the slab, and add to the cracking and movement clay already causes. The water damage itself, wet flooring, baseboards and drywall, is what a restoration company handles. The leaking line itself also has to be repaired; ask the restoration company how that part is coordinated, and keep an eye on any cracking once the leak is fixed.

A pipe let go, or water rising through the floor?

Call (737) 265-3450 about the leak.

Call (737) 265-3450

While You Wait

Shut off the water at the main. Know where it is before you need it; in many Kyle homes it's near the front curb or in the garage.
Keep away from standing water near outlets and appliances. Switch off the circuit at the panel if it's safe to reach.
Photograph the water, the pipe if you can see it, and the rooms affected.
Move belongings, rugs and electronics to a dry room.

Leave the wet flooring and drywall for the restoration company. Pulling up soaked laminate or carpet by hand can damage what might be saved.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Burst Pipe in Texas?

Often, when the damage is sudden and accidental, as with a pipe that froze and split or a supply line that failed. Policies commonly exclude damage from long-term leaks, and some limit coverage if the house was left without heat. Slab leaks raise their own questions about the cost of accessing the line. Your policy decides. Walkthrough: Texas homeowners insurance and burst pipes.

After the Pipe Is Repaired

Once the line is repaired, the drying continues. Slabs, wall bottoms and cabinets hold water longest, and laminate lifted for drying often can't go back down. Ask the restoration company for its moisture readings before any new flooring goes in, so the next floor isn't laid over a wet slab.

Before the Next Hard Freeze

Central Texas freezes are rare enough that most homes aren't built for them. When a hard freeze is forecast:

know where the main shutoff is, and make sure it turns
leave the cabinet doors under exterior-wall sinks open
disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor faucets
keep the heat on, even if you leave town
let faucets on exterior walls drip if local guidance suggests it

After the freeze, check attic and garage lines as temperatures rise. Many burst pipes don't leak until they thaw.

Supply Lines and Water Heaters

Not every pipe failure is a freeze. Braided supply lines under sinks and toilets, washer hoses, ice-maker lines and water heater connections all fail with age, and they're under pressure all the time. A failed line can put a lot of water on a slab floor in a short time. Replacing old rubber washer hoses with braided ones, and checking connections under sinks once a year, prevents a lot of calls.

Pipe and Slab Leak Help Around Kyle

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Main page: water damage restoration in Kyle.

Burst Pipes and Slab Leaks