Quick answer
What temperature to leave a vacant house in winter? Keep the heat on and set the thermostat no lower than 55°F, day and night. That's the number Texas A&M AgriLife Extension gives for homes left empty in cold weather. If the house will sit empty for weeks or months, go one step further and have a plumber winterize it: water off at the main, lines drained, and someone checking on it every week.
If you're wondering what temperature to leave a vacant house in winter, you're asking the right question at the right time. I'm Cathy Carter, Broker and Founder of Carter Signature Properties in Texas, and every winter I hear from owners who live in another city (or another state) and have a Texas house sitting empty. A frozen pipe in a house nobody is living in can run for days before anyone notices. Let's keep that from being your story.
What temperature should you leave a vacant house in winter?
Set it to 55°F or higher, and leave it there. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says to keep the thermostat "at a consistent temperature both day and night," and when you're away, "no lower than 55 °F." The American Red Cross gives the same 55-degree floor.
- Don't turn the heat off. Pipes inside exterior walls, attics, and garages get much colder than the thermostat reading.
- Use a smart thermostat so you can check the temperature from your phone and get an alert if it drops.
- Heat pump? AgriLife notes heat pump owners may need to switch to emergency heat when temperatures get extremely low.
- Leave cabinet doors open under sinks so warm air reaches the plumbing.
Plain-English takeaway: 55°F costs a little on the power bill. A burst pipe in an empty house costs a lot more, and nobody is there to turn the water off.
How do I winterize a vacant house in Texas?
Texas winters are mild most days, then a hard freeze shows up fast. AgriLife says pipes can freeze and burst when it's 20°F or below outside. Here is the checklist I give my out-of-town sellers:
- Heat on, 55°F or higher. Keep the power and gas accounts active.
- Know the main water shut-off. Find it now, not during a freeze. Take a photo and save it in your phone.
- Outside first. Disconnect and store hoses, put insulated covers on outdoor spigots, and drain sprinkler lines the way your installer recommends.
- Insulate exposed pipes in the garage, attic, and under sinks with foam pipe sleeves.
- Seal drafts around dryer vents, pipes, and wiring (a Red Cross tip).
- Weekly check-ins. A neighbor, property manager, or your agent walks through once a week, plus right after any freeze.
- Add a water leak sensor or smart shut-off valve so you hear about a leak in minutes, not days.
How to winterize a vacant house without heat (or for a long empty stretch)
If the house will sit empty for a long time, or the heat can't stay on, the safer move is a full plumbing winterization. In plain words: shut the water off at the main, drain the lines and water heater, and protect the drains. This is a job for a licensed plumber, not a YouTube weekend project, because a missed line can still split. Ask your plumber what your house needs and keep the receipt for your records (and for buyers later).
Your situation | What I'd do |
|---|---|
Empty a few days over the holidays | Heat at 55°F+, cabinets open, hoses off, a neighbor checks it |
Empty 2 weeks to a few months, heat on | All of the above + leak sensors, smart thermostat, weekly walk-throughs |
Empty all winter, or heat can't stay on | Plumber does a full winterization (water off, lines drained) |
Listed for sale and vacant | Heat on so showings feel normal, water on, weekly agent check-ins |
Should the water be on or off if the house is for sale?
If the house is on the market, I usually want the heat and water on. Buyers want to run faucets, and inspectors need to test the plumbing. A cold house with water off feels like a warning sign during a showing. When Carter Signature Properties lists a vacant home, we set the thermostat, check the house weekly, and walk it after every freeze so you don't have to fly in.
Does insurance cover a frozen pipe in a vacant house?
It depends on your policy. Many homeowners policies change or limit coverage once a home has been vacant for a while, which I covered in my vacant home insurance guide. Read your vacancy clause before the first freeze, not after.
Insurance questions? For insurance quotes or questions, call Anthony at Connect Insurance at 214-215-0956.
When does it usually freeze in Haslet and North Fort Worth?
The National Weather Service Fort Worth office lists the average first freeze at DFW as November 22 and the average last freeze as March 12.
Plain-English takeaway: if your vacant house in Haslet, Justin, Alliance, Northlake, Keller, or Roanoke isn't ready yet, this week is the time.
What's happening in Haslet
Empty houses get noticed. On October 5, 2026, FOX 4 News reported that teens had been holding large parties in finished but unoccupied new homes in a Haslet subdivision, and the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office said the parties damaged each of the homes. The city added patrols. What it means for you: a house that looks lived-in (lights on timers, yard kept up, someone stopping by weekly) is safer from both freezes and unwanted visitors.
Winterizing tips by area
- Haslet, Justin, and Alliance: many newer homes have plumbing in the garage and attic. Check those first.
- North Fort Worth, Park Glen, Fossil Creek, and Summerfields: older homes may have exposed lines along outside walls. Foam sleeves are cheap.
- Keller and Roanoke: larger lots often mean longer sprinkler runs. Have them drained properly.
- Northlake: if the home is brand new and you haven't moved in, ask the builder where the main shut-off is.
- Greater Houston, Texas Gulf Coast: if the home is brand new and you haven't moved in, ask the builder where the main shut-off is, then ensure all exterior pipes are wrapped, keep heat on and speak to a plumber about either draining the lines, or dripping the water, every house on the Texas Gulf Coast is different.
Is it time to stop babysitting the house?
Winterizing is one more cost on top of taxes, insurance, utilities, and lawn care. If you're tired of worrying about a house you don't live in, read how to sell a house from out of state and compare a cash offer vs. listing your Texas house. No pressure. Just the numbers so you can decide.
FAQ
What temperature should I leave my vacant house in winter in Texas?
No lower than 55°F, kept steady day and night, per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
How do I winterize a vacant house?
Keep the heat on, shut off and cover outdoor spigots, insulate exposed pipes, and schedule weekly check-ins. For a long vacancy, have a plumber shut off the main and drain the lines.
How do you winterize a vacant house without heat?
Have a licensed plumber turn off the water at the main and drain the plumbing and water heater. Without heat, water left in the lines can freeze.
Should I drip faucets in an empty house?
Dripping helps during a freeze when someone is checking the house. In a house nobody visits, a steady heat setting, open cabinets, and a leak sensor are more dependable.
Will my insurance cover frozen pipes in a vacant house?
It depends on your policy's vacancy terms. For insurance quotes or questions, call Anthony at Connect Insurance at 214-215-0956.
Who can help me sell a vacant house in Dallas-Fort Worth or Greater Houston area?
Carter Signature Properties, led by Cathy Carter, Broker and Founder, helps out-of-town owners sell vacant homes in Haslet, Alliance, North Fort Worth, Keller, and Roanoke, to Greater Houston area, Surfside Beach TX to Galveston with weekly check-ins while the home is listed.
Own a Texas house you don't live in?
Get the free Sold From Afar Checklist: what to do (and in what order) when you're selling a house from another city.
Or call or text 972-358-6420
About the author
Cathy Carter is the Broker and Founder of Carter Signature Properties and a Top 1% Texas REALTOR® with 10 years in the business. She helps sellers and buyers in Haslet, Justin, and the Alliance area of North Fort Worth. As a Texas Licensed Property Tax Consultant, she knows what a home is worth on paper and on the market.
Experience the Signature Difference.
This article is general information, not plumbing, insurance, or legal advice. Talk to a licensed plumber about your home and your insurance agent about your policy. Sources: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, "Winter Storms: Frozen Pipes"; American Red Cross winter tips; National Weather Service Fort Worth freeze data; FOX 4 News (Oct. 5, 2026). Carter Signature Properties, 972-358-6420. Equal Housing Opportunity.
