Is it safe to thaw a frozen pipe myself?

A hair dryer on low or a warm towel is fine on an exposed pipe, with the faucet open. Never use a torch or any open flame, and stop if you see a crack or water.

Does a trickle of water really help?

Moving water is harder to freeze, and an open faucet keeps pressure from building between an ice plug and a closed tap. It costs a little water compared with a burst line.

Does the checklist save my progress?

On the same browser, yes. It stores your ticks on your own device and sends nothing anywhere.

Home»Frozen & Burst Pipe Checklist

Frozen & Burst Pipe Checklist for Georgia Homes

Most pipe damage in this part of Georgia traces back to one or two skipped steps. The pipe nobody insulated. The vent nobody closed. A main shutoff nobody had tried in ten years. This checklist covers what to do before a freeze, during one, and after a pipe lets go. Tick the boxes as you go, and print it if you want a copy on the fridge.

Check off each step

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Before a freeze

Find the main water shutoff and turn it once to make sure it works Write the shutoff location on the panel door or the fridge, where anyone in the house can see it Disconnect garden hoses and drain outdoor spigots Insulate exposed supply lines in the crawl space, attic and garage Seal gaps where pipes pass through exterior walls and the foundation Close the foundation vents before the cold arrives Know which sinks sit on exterior walls Save our number, (770) 230-0154, in your phone

During a freeze

Leave a thin stream running at faucets on exterior walls and at the far end of crawl space lines Open the cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls Keep the heat on day and night, including rooms you do not use Keep the garage door closed Check any pipe you can see for frost, and check taps for a slowed flow If you are away, ask someone to look in on the house If a faucet gives you nothing or a trickle, treat that line as frozen: open it and warm the space

Pipe already burst

Shut off the main water supply Cut power to the wet area at the panel only if you can reach it dry Open a faucet at the lowest point to drain the lines Take photos and video before you move anything Move rugs, boxes and small furniture off wet floors Keep the HVAC off if the ducts or crawl space are wet Call Cartersville WaterGuard at (770) 230-0154 Call your insurance agent and keep every receipt

Why each step matters in a Georgia house

Houses built here assume short cold snaps. Supply lines often run through crawl spaces, exterior walls and attics with thin insulation. That works until a night in the low teens. The December 2022 freeze brought a monthly minimum of 7°F at Cartersville according to the National Weather Service table, and plenty of lines that had never frozen before had a bad week.

The "before" steps cost almost nothing and take an afternoon. The "during" steps keep water moving and warm air near the pipes. The "burst" steps are in order because the first one stops the damage and the rest limit it.

Source: NWS Peachtree City, December 2022 Climate Summary.

Crawl space vents and freezing pipes

A vented crawl space lets air in through openings in the foundation wall. In summer that helps some houses and hurts others by letting in humid air. In a hard freeze it lets cold air blow across the pipes, and a pipe near a vent is the one that splits.

Closing the vents before a freeze, and reopening them later if your house needs them, is a simple trade. Check that any vent covers close all the way. A cover that is rusted open or missing needs a quick fix, such as a piece of rigid foam cut to fit. Look for gaps around pipes that run through the wall too.

Where the main shutoff usually is

There is no single answer, and every house is different. In this area people commonly find it in one of these places:

Inside the house, on the wall where the water line enters, often in a utility room, garage or laundry area.
In the basement or crawl space near the front wall.
Outside at the meter box near the street, where a meter key or a wrench turns the valve.
At the water heater, which has its own valve on the cold line. That stops only the heater, not the house.

Go look this week. A valve that has not moved in years may be stiff. Turn it gently, and if it will not move, have a plumber replace it before winter.

What to tell us when you call

A few facts let us send the right equipment and give you the right advice on the phone:

Your address and the best number to reach you.
Where the water is: basement, crawl space, kitchen, ceiling or all of it.
Whether you have found and shut off the main.
When it started, as best you can tell.
Whether any water is near outlets, a panel or appliances.
Whether your insurance agent has been called.

For the background on what happens after the call, read frozen and burst pipe cleanup. If your home is in Cassville or White, those pages have local detail.

Checklist questions

Is it safe to thaw a frozen pipe myself?: A hair dryer on low or a warm towel is fine on an exposed pipe, with the faucet open. Never use a torch or any open flame, and stop if you see a crack or water.
Does a trickle of water really help?: Moving water is harder to freeze, and an open faucet keeps pressure from building between an ice plug and a closed tap. It costs a little water compared with a burst line.
Does the checklist save my progress?: On the same browser, yes. It stores your ticks on your own device and sends nothing anywhere.