City of Atlanta

Department of Watershed Management

Press Release

December 14, 2010 – Sub-freezing temperatures across Atlanta are taking their toll on residential water pipes. The Department of Watershed Management offers these tips for protecting your pipes:
- Note locations where pipes have frozen in the past. Outside hose connections are particularly vulnerable. If there is a shutoff to the outside faucet, use it and then drain the hose.
- Locate your shutoff valve (usually in a basement or crawl space). The valve should be close to the front of the house where the pipes enter from the street. If your pipes freeze and burst, you can shut the water off until a plumber can repair the damaged pipes.
- Disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets to allow the faucets to drain properly.
Insulate pipes that may be exposed to cold temperatures. Hardware stores offer pipe wrappings embedded with heat tape that can be plugged into an outlet to keep pipes warm.
- Keep your home warm, even when you are gone for the day. Open doors to interior rooms and cabinets to allow heat circulation.
- Allow your faucets to drip.

If your pipes do freeze, and you can locate the frozen area, you may be able to thaw it and avoid pipe damage by using a hair dryer. If the pipes break, shut off water to the house via the main shutoff valve, and call your plumber.

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The Department of Watershed Management provides drinking water and wastewater collection and treatment services to more than 1 million people over a 650-square-mile area.

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