How to Prepare Your Home for Winter in North Atlanta

Cold air is moving in from the north. Temperatureshere in Atlanta are said to be quite low in the coming weeks, which increases the risks of a frozen pipe. Although temperatures may remain above freezing during the day, the risk of a burst pipe when temperatures drop to their lowest at night is a genuine concern.

Many homeowners in North Atlanta have suffered extensive water damage due to frozen pipes. You now have an opportunity to prepare your home. By preventing frozen pipes, you can stop burst pipes from causing immense damage to your property.

Winterize Your Plumbing to Avoid Burst Pipes

By taking precautions and winterizing your plumbing system in North Atlanta, you can prevent frozen pipes and, therefore, burst pipes. For many, outdoor hoses and faucets are an afterthought. However, these systems tend to freeze more easily than any other plumbing system. Do not ignore a garden hose attached to an outdoor faucet.

Here is how you can winterize your plumbing and home:

• Remove water hoses from outdoor faucets. Drain the water from the hose and store them somewhere warm and indoors for the winter.
• Shut off the water valve for any exterior water systems and fixtures. You can generally find a water shutoff valve under the sink, in the crawl space, or basement, or by main water supply lines.
• Open exterior faucets to drain remaining water from the line. Most outdoors faucets are equipped with specialized systems to prevent freezing when water is not inside the line.
• Your whole family should know where the main water shutoff valve is located and know when to use it in case of a water damage emergency. You may wish to purchase a gas and water shutoff tool in the event of a burst pipe.
• Speaking of pipes, consider wrapping exposed exterior pipes in pipe insulation, foam jackets, or heat tape to prevent freezing.

Additional Cold Weather Tips

Now that your home’s plumbing system is winterized, it’s time to look elsewhere. Here are a few additional tips for the coming cold weather:

• Heating – Keep your home’s heating system running day and night. Do not let the temperature in your home drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Try to keep the same temperature during both the day and night on your thermostat.
• Faucets – During the coldest portion of the day, let your faucets drip cold water. Running water through the system will prevent pipes from freezing.
• Cabinets – Open the doors to your kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to better circulate inside. The warm air will prevent the pipes from freezing over.
• Cracks – Many old homes have air leaks around exterior plumbing pipes. Do your very best to seal these leaks using blow-in insulation or caulk before dropping temperatures cause an issue.

Furthermore, if you have a garage with water supply lines or a crawl space, consider sealing these areas off to prevent dropping temperatures from affecting the lines.

If you’re dealing with frozen pipes or water damage, do not hesitate to call Restoration 1 of North Atlanta. You can reach us 24/7 by calling 678-671-5636!