If you are planning to leave your Atlanta, Georgia home for an extended period of time during the colder winter months, or if you have a vacant property, it is important that you take some reasonable measures to protect the plumbing in your home. Frozen pipes are not unheard of in Atlanta, Georgia. And as the weather continues to surprise us, freezing temperatures are becoming more common. There are some simple steps you should take toprevent your pipes from freezing so that when you return you won’t come home-sweet-home to a not- so- sweet surprise.
How do pipes freeze?
When water reaches temperatures of 32°F or below it freezes. When water freezes it expands. When water freezes inside a pipe it pushes against the wall of the pipe with some pretty impressive force. If the pipe is weak then the pipe or the pipe seals can leak, fracture, break, or burst. If there is a continued supply of water to the pipe it can dump hundreds of gallons of water in as little as an hour. Imagine coming home to that disaster and water bill! The average insurance claim for water damage from a pipe burst is 15,000 dollars. A frozen pipe in Atlanta, Georgia may seem like a bad punch line to a joke, but is isn’t funny when it happens to you.
How to prevent your pipes from freezing when you leave home
When you are going to leave home for an extended period of time during the winter months, more specifically January and February, make sure you leave your thermostat set no lower than 55 degrees. This is probably the most important thing you can do. When the temperature in your house reaches 32 or lower your pipes are at serious risk of freezing. Also, open all the cabinet and closet doors in your kitchen and bathrooms. This will allow the warmer air to reach pipes that are often hidden. Lastly, have a friend or neighbor check the house often to make sure there hasn’t been a power outage that has turned off the heat. The best thing you could do to protect your plumbing when you are gone, and for years to come, is to have an experienced Fulton plumber come and insulate all your at risk pipes. In one visit they can find all your at-risk pipes hidden in crawl spaces, attics, garages, and basements, insulate them, and have you off on your adventure with peace of mind.
If you do come home from a trip, or wake up one morning to find damp or wet drywalls or floors, then you probably had a frozen pipe that turned into a pipe leak or burst pipe. First turn off your main water supply, then call one of our Fulton plumbing technicians. Frozen pipes are tricky and really do need an experts eye and experience. Fulton Plumbing is committed to providing you superior plumbing expertise, options and customer service. For testimonials and coupons, visit us on the webor call one of our friendly representatives today. At Fulton Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning our number one goal is to provide friendly, top quality work 100% of the time, any time day or night.
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