Quick answer
Close your home's own shut-off valve (in Bedford, don't touch the city meter), cut power to wet rooms, drain the lines and photograph the damage. Then get drying started within the first day. Water in drywall and carpet pad spreads out of sight, and Texas policies usually cover sudden pipe bursts but not slow leaks.
Why pipes burst in Bedford
North Texas doesn't freeze often, but when it does, it can freeze hard. In February 2021 the temperature at DFW Airport fell to −2°F on February 16 and stayed at or below freezing for 139 hours straight, from the evening of February 13 to midday on February 19. In December 2022 DFW hit 11°F two nights in a row.
Many Bedford homes aren't built for that. The median home in the city was built in 1983, and about three in four homes were built before 1990. Pipes in exterior walls, attics and unheated garages are the most exposed. Older supply lines and fittings are more likely to split.
Not every burst pipe is a freeze. Failed water heater connections, washing machine hoses, toilet supply lines and pinhole leaks in older copper pipes cause the same kind of damage any time of year.
What to do in the first hour
1. Stop the water at your own valve
Find your home's main shut-off valve and close it. Bedford's rules say residents, and even licensed professionals, may not operate the city-owned water meter without approval. Private shut-off valves on your side are fine. If you can't find or close yours, call Bedford Public Works, which lists a 24/7 line for water emergencies.
2. Make the area safe
Water and electricity don't mix. Switch off breakers for wet rooms only if you can reach the panel without standing in water. Stay out from under any ceiling that sags or bulges.
3. Drain the lines and document everything
Open the cold taps to let the remaining water out. Then take photos and video of every wet room, the burst section of pipe and anything damaged, before you move it. The Texas Department of Insurance advises taking photos before repairs and keeping receipts for anything you spend.
4. Start drying fast
Mop up standing water, lift rugs and move furniture onto blocks or foil. Water that soaks into drywall, insulation and carpet pad keeps spreading out of sight. TDI warns that mold can start growing within a day.
What a restoration company will do
- Find the moisture. Moisture meters and thermal cameras show how far the water travelled inside walls and under flooring.
- Remove the water. Extraction equipment pulls water out of carpet and pad; soaked pad is usually thrown away.
- Open what can't dry. Wet drywall is often cut out along the bottom of the wall so the cavity behind it can dry.
- Dry and monitor. Air movers and dehumidifiers run for several days, with readings taken until materials are back to normal.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Can I have a written estimate, and will you bill my insurer directly or bill me?
- How will you decide the job is dry, and will you share the moisture readings?
- What will you remove, and why?
- Do you carry liability insurance? Can I see proof?
If mold is already visible and covers 25 contiguous square feet or more, Texas requires a licensed mold remediator. See mold after water damage.
Insurance in Texas, briefly
Most homeowner and renter policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe, and exclude damage from slow leaks over time. Once you report a claim, Texas insurers generally have 15 business days to acknowledge it and, once they have the information they need, 15 business days to accept or deny it (with a possible 45-day extension), and a denial must be in writing.
Preventing the next one
- When a hard freeze is forecast, let faucets on exterior walls drip, and open sink cabinet doors so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor spigots.
- Know where your shut-off valve is before you need it, and check it turns.
- Replace rubber washing-machine hoses with braided ones, and check water-heater connections.
Sources: NWS Fort Worth, Feb 2021 winter event · NBC DFW, Dec 2022 lows · Census ACS (housing age) · City of Bedford water FAQ · TDI: water damage and mold coverage · TDI: claim deadlines
Last reviewed against the official sources linked on this page.