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Avoid Frozen Pipes this Winter with 8 Simple Tasks

Posted by Blog Admin on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025 at 2:21pm.

When temperatures fall below freezing in the sunny South, it means many homeowners will face the mess and expense of frozen, burst pipes the next day. As Metro Atlanta gears up for the first truly cold winter weather of 2025, Peggy Slappey Properties is here to help you get ready. After 40 years in real estate, we know this is one of the biggest problems homeowners face each winter season.

Before the sun goes down and temperatures plummet, there are a few simple steps you can take to avoid the dreaded (and often costly) frozen pipes that burst and cause water leaks, flooding, and damage to your home.

8 Simple Tasks to Avoid Frozen Pipes

  1. Start on the outside of your home by disconnecting garden hoses.  Drain the hoses appropriately before storing for the winter.
  2. Turn off the water to outside faucets by using the valve inside your home.  Drain the remaining water by allowing it to run until dry. Use insulated faucet covers for extra protection. You can find these at your local hardware store, and they are reusable year after year when properly stored during warmer months.
  3. If you have one, turn off your sprinkler system and blow compressed air through the lines to drain them.
  4. Then, move inside to close and cover basement windows and foundation vents.
  5. Keep garage doors closed. This alone can raise the temperature in your garage by up to ten degrees, protecting pipes in those interior walls.
  6. Set faucets in kitchens and baths to a slow trickle overnight.  This will keep the lines flowing and less likely to freeze.
  7. Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate.
  8. Finally, locate the main water cut-off and be ready to turn it off if a pipe does freeze.

If you’re lucky enough to catch a frozen pipe before it bursts, and it’s in a place where you can see and reach it (in an unfinished basement, for example), it may be possible to use a hair dryer to thaw it. Hopefully, you’ll avoid the mess of a big water leak.

A tiny bit of preparation goes a long way before a winter storm hits, especially in Metro Atlanta, where winter weather can bring everyday life to a standstill.  With any luck, the next batch of winter weather will be just enough for sledding and a snowman, and your home will stay snug and dry throughout it.

Peggy Slappey Properties, Inc. is a Metro Atlanta real estate brokerage celebrating just over 40 years in business.  From new home construction to resales and so much more, we are Georgia’s most service-centric real estate company. Our topmost goal is to enrich the lives of those we encounter, one story at a time.  To see our current listings, visit www.psponline.com and call us for expert advice at 770-271-5555.  Keep up to date with the latest PSP events and offers by checking in on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

This blog post and information it contains, including but not limited to plans, pricing, and financing options, may change without notice. Please contact sales agents for the most up-to-date information.

January 7, 2025

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