As temperatures in Georgia plummet to near record lows, residents have been warned to prepare their homes, particularly their plumbing, to prevent costly damages. Master Plumber Matt Byrne from Coolray Heating and Air in Marietta has provided advice on how to avoid the misfortune of burst pipes, which can lead to extensive water damage and financial distress. "Once the air temperature starts to drop into the teens, that’s when water starts to freeze relatively quickly," Byrne told FOX 5. He suggested that homeowners should roll up and disconnect outdoor hoses, use styrofoam covers or old towels to insulate hose bibs, and maintain a steady stream of water trickling through faucets.
Byrne also emphasized the importance of knowing where your home's main water valve is located, "Once that water stops flowing and you can’t get it out of your faucets, the next thing you’re going to want to do is shut the house off just to prepare," he explained. This advice could save homeowners between a few hundred to several thousand dollars in damages, following the holiday season of 2022 when temperatures dipped and calls for service soared past 1800, according to Byrne's recall in an interview with the same station. Cabinet doors should also be left open as a measure to keep pipes warm, and thus less likely to freeze.
Renter's insurance is another critical aspect to consider during these freezing conditions. As reported by Atlanta News First, tenants are often required to have renter's liability policies that cover negligence but may be unaware such policies don't cover personal content and added expenses like hotel stays and food costs during displacement. "Tenants need all three: liability, personal contents, and additional expenses," the report states, highlighting the possibility of losing thousands without proper coverage, with policies running between $200 and $300 a year.
Preventative steps are not suggestions but prerequisites for coverage, as nearly all homeowner's insurance policies demand this for claims to be honored. This, includes keeping the home heated during freezes to prevent pipes from bursting. Negligence, such as turning off the heat while away during a cold spell, can lead to denied claims. This predicament struck many in the previous year's freeze on Jan. 26, 2022, as subsequent ruptured pipes inflicted havoc upon unprepared homeowners and tenants alike, driving them into costly temporary living situations.
