Atlanta, and much of the rest of the country, is firmly in the grasp of a frigid cold snap. A big part of making it through these freezing temperatures is making sure your home can handle it.
A pipe bursting could cost you anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on the damage it costs.
11Alive's Faith Abubey talked to Melvin Davis, a local plumber from Davis Plumbling, who said when temperatures start to fall, homeowners need to take precautions.
"Everything gets real frozen, but when it warms up, it's gonna get real bad," he said.
Davis said the most common issue plumbers run into when a hard freeze sets in is frozen hose bibs. To protect them, he said simple household items, like a T-shirt, can be used to wrap around the part.
In kitchens and bathrooms, keeping the doors open allows warmer air to circulate around pipes, preventing them from getting too cold. For the sinks, allowing a slow trickle of water to flow from the faucet can ward off other problems.
"As long as you've got water moving through the lines, you should be alright," Davis said.
If you find you already have a frozen pipe, Davis recommends turning off the supply to that pipe if possible, that way no pressure builds up in the line when the water starts to thaw.
If you have an older house, Davis recommends shutting off all water supply all together for a few days, at least until temperatures start to rise again. The inconvenience, he said, will be worth the dollars saved from any damage.
"It can get really bad," Davis warned. "It can flood your house real quick...it's going to interrupt your life if you don't pay attention to these small details."
It's also worth it to check with your homeowner insurer to find out what your policy covers should a pipe burst.
