I as new landlord got the dreaded phone call of a frozen pipe causing flooding. 

We want to avoid potential damages of non-use: frozen pipes, HVAC getting funky, etc.

However -- if the ground is frozen and you are building a 2-story walk-out with a full basement, you have to wait until spring. -- I think what you got confused is settling vs. like 'curing.'

I can't justify buying my materials for a job at the same place I can buy a frozen pizza and canned meats.

@Brad SmithGood thing you are in Tejas ... up here our lines are 48 - 60" down ... and the top 8" of the ground is somewhat frozen at the moment ;-)

If that were not the case, it would have frozen every year for the past 100 plus years.

(But later once I asked them to set the thermometer higher the water came back again, so it is just because the pipe was frozen).However, I don't know if it is hard to prove that it is the tenant's fault.

Remember that the rest of Canada is completely frozen and covered in snow 70% of the time.

And also protected her property in the meantime from frozen/busted water pipes, etc...However, the new landlord (outta state owner), with new tenants found through a local PM, did not have the utilities setup to automatically switch, so he knew nothing about what was going on at the property, until it was entirely too late.  

Direct TV isn't to bad they just put the dish on the ground and there is a cable running along the grass (probably couldn't bury the cable as the ground was frozen.