Kennesaw doesn't get many hard freezes, and that's exactly why they cause so much damage. Plumbing in crawl spaces, attics, garages and exterior walls often isn't protected the way it would be farther north, so a few nights in the teens can split pipes all over the area. Here's how to prepare before the next cold snap, what to do if a pipe freezes, and what to do if one bursts. For cleanup help, see our page on water damage restoration in Kennesaw.
What the December 2022 freeze showed
Around Christmas 2022, metro Atlanta stayed below freezing for about three days and dropped to 8°F on Christmas Eve morning, with wind chills below zero. As temperatures rose, frozen pipes and sprinkler lines burst and flooded apartments, condos, hotels and businesses across the region. Georgia's insurance commissioner said many metro Atlanta homes and buildings weren't designed to withstand prolonged extreme cold, and expected thousands of claims. Kennesaw's own record low, per climate records, is −12°F, so extreme cold isn't unheard of here.
Before a freeze: a checklist
- Find your main water shutoff and make sure it turns. Show everyone in the house where it is.
- Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, attics, garages and along exterior walls with foam pipe sleeves.
- Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor spigots.
- Close crawl space vents and garage doors during the cold snap if your home has them.
- Let faucets on exterior walls drip on the coldest nights, both hot and cold if it's a single-handle faucet.
- Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Keep the heat on and steady, including overnight and when you're away.
- Shut off and drain irrigation systems and any outdoor plumbing.
If a pipe freezes
Signs include a faucet that produces only a trickle, frost on an exposed pipe, or a strange smell from a drain. If you suspect a frozen pipe:
- Keep the faucet open so water can flow as the ice melts.
- Warm the pipe gently with a hair dryer, a heating pad or warm towels, starting near the faucet.
- Never use an open flame, such as a torch, which can start a fire.
- If you can't reach the frozen section or it won't thaw, call a plumber.
- If you see a crack or bulge, shut off the main water before it thaws.
If a pipe bursts
Shut off the main water, cut power to wet areas from a dry spot, drain the lines through a low faucet, photograph everything and call a plumber, your insurer and a restoration contractor. Water from a burst pipe travels into walls and floor cavities, so the EPA's 24 to 48 hour drying window applies. Our step-by-step guide covers the first steps after a burst pipe, and our burst pipe water damage page explains the cleanup.
Insurance and frozen pipes
A former Georgia insurance commissioner explained that homeowners policies typically cover repairs to internal plumbing damaged by freezing and the resulting damage to carpet, furniture and belongings, but not frozen pipes outside the home, such as in the yard. Some policies also expect you to keep the home heated or the water shut off and drained when you're away, so read the freezing section of your policy before winter. See water damage insurance in Georgia.
Leaving town in winter
If you'll be away during cold weather, keep the heat on, ask someone to check the house, and consider shutting off the main water and draining the lines. A leak that runs for days in an empty house is one of the most damaging losses there is, from Cartersville to Holly Springs.