We recently helped a homeowner in Magnolia who had a leak at their water service — and I’ll be honest, when we first started in plumbing, I remember thinking the same thing many of you might be thinking now:

What exactly is a water service?

Simply put, it’s the pipe that brings water into your home from the city — or from a well in more rural areas. It’s the lifeline of your home’s plumbing system, and most of us never think about it… until something goes wrong.

During this last freeze, many homes seemed to come through just fine. No broken pipes. No immediate leaks. Everything appeared normal. But here’s the thing about freeze damage — it doesn’t always show up right away.

We are still receiving calls from homeowners who didn’t realize their plumbing was damaged weeks ago.

In this Magnolia home, the copper water service pipe had deteriorated so badly that the technicians could bend it with their hands. The copper walls had worn down over time, becoming paper-thin. When we held the old pipe next to a new one, the difference was shocking — and honestly, a little unsettling.

The home was built in 1992, which means those pipes had done their job for decades. But time, minerals, soil conditions, and temperature changes had taken their toll.

Copper has long been considered a reliable material, but aging copper — especially underground or exposed — can quietly weaken until it finally fails.

Our recommendation was to remove the failing copper and replace it with PEX piping, which is far more flexible, freeze-resistant, and forgiving during temperature swings.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
Just because your home made it through the freeze doesn’t mean it wasn’t affected.

Take a few minutes to look at your water service and any exposed pipes around your home. Sometimes the damage is subtle — until it isn’t.

I’ve shared a photo so you can see just how thin that original pipe had become. It’s a powerful reminder that proactive care can save a whole lot of stress later.