Winter Plumbing Prep: Protect Your Atlanta Home from Freeze Damage

Atlanta winters might be milder than up north, but those sudden cold snaps can wreak havoc on unprepared plumbing systems. Even a brief freeze can burst pipes and cause thousands in water damage. The good news? A little prevention goes a long way.

Why Atlanta Homes Are Especially Vulnerable

Because we don't face extreme cold regularly, many Atlanta homes have pipes in crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls without the heavy insulation you'd find in northern climates. When temperatures drop unexpectedly, these pipes are sitting ducks.

When water freezes, it expands with incredible force—enough to split copper, PVC, and steel pipes. The real damage happens when things thaw and water starts gushing through the cracks.

Know Your Home's Weak Spots

Walk around your property and identify vulnerable areas before the temperature drops. Pay special attention to:

Outdoor faucets and hose bibs: These are directly exposed to freezing air and are often the first to fail. If you can still twist a hose onto them, they're at risk.

Crawl space pipes: The pipes running under your home don't benefit from your heating system. Cold air flows freely through crawl spaces, especially if you have foundation vents.

Garage and exterior wall pipes: Any plumbing along outside walls or in unheated garages faces cold exposure. Kitchen sinks on exterior walls are particularly common trouble spots.

Attic plumbing: Water supply lines in your attic are surrounded by cold air, not the warm air from your living space below.

Simple Steps That Prevent Expensive Problems

Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Remove hoses from all outdoor faucets and let them drain completely. Water trapped in a hose can freeze back into the pipe.

Insulate exposed pipes: Foam pipe insulation from any hardware store provides an effective barrier. Focus on crawl spaces, attics, and garage pipes first. Even newspaper wrapped around pipes offers some protection in a pinch.

Seal crawl space vents: Temporarily close foundation vents when freezing weather is forecast. Just remember to reopen them when temperatures rise to prevent moisture problems.

Let faucets drip during hard freezes: When temperatures are predicted to drop into the 20s, let faucets connected to vulnerable pipes drip slightly. Moving water is much harder to freeze than standing water.

Keep cabinet doors open: For sinks on exterior walls, open the cabinet doors to let warm room air circulate around the pipes.

What to Do If Pipes Freeze

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you likely have a frozen pipe. Don't panic, but act quickly.

Keep the faucet open—as you warm the pipe, the melting ice needs somewhere to go. Never use open flames or high heat sources like blowtorches. Instead, use a hair dryer, heat lamp, or hot towels to gradually warm the pipe, working from the faucet back toward the frozen section.

If you can't locate the freeze or if it's in a wall or ceiling, it's time to call a professional. Trying to thaw hidden pipes yourself can lead to flooding if they've already cracked.

When to Call Paramount Plumbing

If you're unsure where your vulnerable pipes are located, haven't winterized in past years, or want professional pipe insulation installed, we can help. We'll assess your home's specific risks and implement solutions that protect your plumbing year after year.

A service call now costs far less than emergency pipe repairs and water damage restoration later.

Get your Atlanta home winter-ready. Contact Paramount Plumbing for pipe insulation, outdoor faucet winterization, and expert plumbing protection services.