Which pipes are at risk
Water expands when it freezes, and the pipe splits where the ice pressure is highest. The split often does not show until the ice melts and water starts flowing, so the flood arrives after the cold has passed.
The risky locations are the ones outside the heated envelope: attic runs, crawlspace lines, pipes in exterior walls, garage supply lines, outdoor spigots and water lines to a detached building. Pipes on an exterior wall with little insulation are the usual victims.
| Location | Risk | Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Attic supply lines | High | Insulation and sealing air leaks |
| Crawlspace lines | High | Insulate, close vents on the coldest nights |
| Exterior wall pipes | Medium | Open cabinet doors, let a faucet drip |
| Outdoor spigots | High | Disconnect hoses, cover or shut off |
| Garage lines | High | Insulate and keep the door closed |
Before the freeze
A one-hour checklist
- Find your main shutoff and test that it turns.
- Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor faucets.
- Wrap exposed pipes in foam sleeves.
- Seal gaps where pipes pass through walls and rim joists.
- Know where to find the number of a plumber.
On the coldest night
Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes. Let a faucet drip at the far end of the house. Moving water is much harder to freeze, and a trickle costs far less than a repair. Keep the heat set no lower than you would normally have it, even if you are away.
If a pipe is frozen but not split
Open the faucet
Leave the nearest faucet open so melting water can escape and relieve pressure.
Apply gentle heat
Use a hair dryer or heating pad on the frozen section, working from the faucet toward the frozen part.
Never use open flame
A torch can ignite framing and damage the pipe.
Check for splits
Once flow returns, look along the pipe for leaks.
Call if unsure
If you cannot reach the pipe, call us.
Splits and the repair
A split pipe needs a repair section or replacement. We thaw the pipe safely, locate every break and replace what failed. If the pipe is old and corroded, we raise repiping honestly. If you cannot find where the water is going, leak detection helps.
Insurance and documentation
A freeze burst is often a covered event for the resulting damage. Photograph everything before cleanup, keep receipts and ask your insurer what they need. Our written report of the cause is useful for a claim.
Number of splits
A freeze often splits more than one section.
Access
Attic and wall pipes cost more to reach.
Material
Copper, PEX and galvanized repair differently.
After-hours
Priced on the same call.
For your real number, call (770) 214-4545.
Pipe frozen or split?
Close the main if it is flowing, then call the 24/7 line.
Why Georgia homes are caught off guard
In colder states, builders put water lines inside the heated envelope as a matter of course. In the Southeast, supply lines often run through attics, garages and open crawlspaces because freezes are rare. When one arrives, those lines are the first to fail.
A freeze that lasts a day or two can be enough, particularly with wind. Insulation and sealing air leaks around pipes cost little and prevent most problems.
What to do if you are traveling
- Leave the heat on at a safe setting rather than turning it off.
- Ask a neighbor to check the house if a hard freeze is forecast.
- Know where the main shutoff is, and consider closing it and draining the lines for long absences in winter.
- Drain outdoor lines and disconnect hoses before you leave.
After the thaw
Check ceilings, walls and floors near pipes in the attic, garage and crawlspace for stains or sagging. Listen for the sound of running water. Look at your meter with everything off. A split pipe often reveals itself when the ice melts and pressure returns, sometimes hours after the temperature rises.
If you find a leak, close the main, open a low faucet to drain the lines and call. Photograph the damage before moving things. A plumber can repair the split, check the rest of the run and recommend protection so it does not happen again.
Outdoor lines and detached buildings
Irrigation lines, hose bibs and supply lines to a shed or detached garage are exposed. Drain the irrigation system and close the indoor valve that feeds each outdoor spigot, if you have one. If you do not, install insulated covers. A hose bib that drips after a freeze may be split inside the wall, so check the interior wall behind it for dampness.
Quick reference for a freeze night
Before bed: drip a faucet at the far end of the house, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, close garage doors and keep the heat on. In the morning: check that water flows from every tap. If flow is weak or missing, a pipe may be frozen. If you hear running water or see a stain, close the main and call.
Keep a flashlight and your plumber's number where you can find them. Do not run space heaters near wet areas or unattended in a crawlspace.
Sources and standards
General freeze preparation advice is consistent with FEMA Ready.gov winter weather guidance. Repairs and replacement pipe follow the International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted in Georgia.
Local note: Christmas weekend, 2022
The December 2022 cold snap sent pressure swings through DeKalb County's system and caused a run of main breaks and an advisory covering parts of the county. Homes in Lilburn and Norcross are on Gwinnett County's separate system, but private pipes in attics and crawlspaces face the same cold everywhere.
Tucker sits around 1,100 feet on Piedmont bedrock. The bedrock does not change how a pipe freezes, but it does mean fewer basements and more crawlspaces and slabs, so check how your own house is built.
Questions we hear from homeowners
Pipes in unprotected spaces can freeze when temperatures stay at or below freezing for hours. Wind and poor insulation make it worse.
A slow drip at the far end of the house helps on the coldest nights.
The resulting damage is often covered. Ask your insurer.
No water or a trickle from a faucet in cold weather, and frost on exposed pipe, are clues.
Often yes, with gentle heat and an open faucet. Never use open flame.