We don’t think of Georgia as a cold state. That’s exactly why the cold does so much damage here.
Last winter proved it. Back-to-back storms, two statewide states of emergency, and days that never climbed above freezing. All over Morgan County and Lake Oconee, the phones rang — frozen pipes, split lines, and water where water should never be. Insurers ranked Georgia among the costliest states in the country for frozen-pipe claims, with the average water-damage claim topping thirty thousand dollars.
Most of it was preventable. Here’s how to stay dry this year.
Start outside.
Disconnect every garden hose. A hose left on traps water in the line and cracks it. Cover outdoor spigots with insulated covers.
Shut down and drain the irrigation system, including the backflow preventer.
Protect the cold-zone pipes. Find the plumbing that runs through the crawl space, attic, garage, and exterior walls.
Insulate exposed pipes with foam sleeves. Add heat cable to the spots that have frozen before.
Seal drafts — an open crawl-space vent freezes a pipe faster than the outdoor air.
Know your main shut-off. If a pipe bursts, the difference between a mop-up and a disaster is how fast you stop the water. Find your main valve today, and make sure it actually turns.
Don’t forget the water heater. Flush it before winter, and if it’s getting old, know that the coldest morning is when a tired one tends to quit.
Watch the empty house. A lake house or a home you’re away from won’t notice a burst until someone walks in days later. Shut the water off and drain the lines, or have someone check it during any freeze. Never let the thermostat drop below 55.
On the coldest nights. Let a faucet drip — slow trickle, hot and cold. Keep the heat on. Open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
If a pipe freezes, leave the faucet open and warm it gently with a hair dryer, working from the faucet back. Never use an open flame. If one bursts, shut off the main, open a faucet, and call us.
Don’t wait for the freeze warning — that’s when the stores sell out and the plumbers book solid. A pre-winter plumbing check is like a flu shot for your home: we walk your lines, insulate what’s exposed, and check your shut-offs and water heater before the first freeze. It’s part of our Whole-Home Checkup.
Let’s get you on the calendar before the cold sets in. One call, and we’ll help you get ready.
Nesbitt Repair — Plumbing, Electrical & Handyman | Madison, GA | 706-752-0020 | NesbittRepair.com
We protect the health of your home — and the loved ones in it. Love Your Neighbor — Mark 12:31
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