How to Keep Pipes From Freezing in Metro Atlanta (and What to Do If They Do)

Frozen pipes are one of the most common winter emergency calls we get across Cobb and Paulding County, and most of them can be prevented.

Metro Atlanta doesn’t get many hard freezes, which is exactly why they cause so much damage here. Many homes have pipes in crawlspaces, garages, attics and exterior walls that were never built for a cold snap, and when temperatures drop well below freezing for a night or two, those pipes are the ones that split.

A little preparation before the first hard freeze prevents most of it.

Before the first hard freeze

• Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor faucets. A hose left on traps water in the spigot, which can split even a frost-free hose bib.
• Insulate exposed pipes in crawlspaces, unheated garages, attics and along exterior walls with foam pipe sleeves.
• Close crawlspace vents and foundation openings during cold snaps, and reopen them when it warms up.
• Shut off and drain irrigation and any outdoor lines you don’t use in winter.
• Find your main shutoff and make sure it turns. If it is seized, get it fixed before you need it.

On the night of a hard freeze

• Let faucets on exterior walls drip, both hot and cold. Moving water is much less likely to freeze, and a drip relieves pressure if ice forms.
• Open sink cabinet doors on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
• Keep the thermostat steady, including overnight. Don’t let the house get cold to save a little on heating.
• If you’re traveling, keep the heat on (many plumbers suggest no lower than about 55°F) and consider shutting off the main and opening faucets to drain the lines.

If a pipe freezes

• Signs: a faucet that gives a trickle or nothing at all, or frost on an exposed pipe.
• Open the faucet so melting water can flow out.
• Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, a space heater kept at a safe distance, or warm towels. Never use an open flame.
• Work from the faucet back toward the frozen section.
• If you can’t find or reach the frozen section, or the pipe looks split, shut off the main and call a plumber before it thaws.

If a pipe bursts

Shut off the main water valve immediately, turn off power to any wet areas at the breaker, move valuables out of the way, and take photos for your insurance claim. Then call. Many homeowners policies cover sudden water damage from a burst pipe, and a plumber’s invoice documents the cause your adjuster will ask about.