How to Protect Your Pipes from Freezing in Athens-Clarke County
Georgia winters are usually mild, but sudden overnight freezes are exactly what catch raised-crawlspace homes off guard. When temperatures drop fast, exposed pipes under the house and along exterior walls can freeze and burst within hours.
Why raised crawl spaces freeze first
Homes built on raised crawl spaces have water lines running through unconditioned space. Without insulation and a heat source, those pipes reach freezing temperatures quickly when an arctic front moves through Northeast Georgia.
Actionable steps to protect your pipes
- Insulate exposed exterior lines and crawl space pipes with foam sleeves.
- Seal foundation vents and gaps where cold air enters the crawl space.
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses before a hard freeze.
- Wrap or cover outdoor hose bibs with insulated covers.
- Let interior faucets drip slowly during extreme cold snaps.
- Keep the home thermostat at a steady temperature overnight.
Handling frozen hose bibs and lines
If a hose bib or line is frozen, never heat it with an open flame. Warm it gradually with a hair dryer or warm towels, and shut off the main supply if a pipe has already split. A plumber can assess hidden damage before it turns into a major leak.
When to call a professional
If water stops flowing from a single fixture and the rest of the home is fine, a frozen line is likely the cause. Call a local Athens plumber before the thaw; a hairline split hidden in a wall is far cheaper to fix now than the flood it causes later.