How to Prevent Frozen Pipes During a Marietta Winter

Georgia winters aren't brutal, but we get enough hard freezes each year that frozen pipes are one of the most common winter emergencies we handle in Marietta. A burst pipe can dump hundreds of gallons into a home before anyone notices. A little prep in the fall saves that call in January.

Why pipes freeze here

When the temperature drops below 20°F and stays there, water in any pipe against an outside wall, in a crawl space, or running to an outdoor spigot can freeze. Water expands when it freezes, and that expansion is what cracks the pipe, not the cold itself.

The fall checklist

• Disconnect and drain hoses. Water left in a hose backs up into the spigot and freezes first.
• Shut off and drain outdoor faucets. If your home has a separate shutoff valve for the spigot, close it inside and open the outside faucet to drain.
• Install frost-free hose bibbs. If you still have an old non-frost-free spigot, this is the upgrade that stops the most common freeze failure we see.
• Insulate exposed pipes. Foam sleeves on pipes in the crawl space, garage, and along outside walls are cheap and effective.
• Seal gaps. Caulk around pipes where they enter the house so cold air isn't blowing straight onto them.
• Know where your main shutoff is. If a pipe does burst, the first move is shutting off water to the whole house.

On the coldest nights

• Let a trickle of water run from the faucet furthest from the meter. Moving water is harder to freeze.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks so warm room air reaches the pipes.
• Keep the garage door closed if there are pipes in there.

If a pipe does freeze

Don't use a torch or open flame. Open the faucet, apply warm towels or a hair dryer on low from the faucet back toward the frozen spot, and call a plumber if you can't find the freeze or if you see a split. If water has stopped flowing and you suspect a break, shut off your main and call us.

Need a frost-free spigot installed or pipes insulated before the cold hits? Call (770) 508-6073 or request a quote.