The Georgia winters can be tough, depending on where you live in the state. Homes here often have crawl spaces and/or basements. In order to keep pipes in crawl spaces from freezing in those cold temperatures, it’s important that homeowners take some preventative measures before it starts to get too chilly out!

When the temperatures begin to drop, it’s time to prep your home for winter. One of the best ways is by making sure that all pipes, inlets and outlets in your crawl space (and other parts of your house) are covered with insulation.

For pipes located in an unheated area such as the crawlspace and garage, it’s important that you insulate them before winter. If they freeze then your home will be compromised since water can’t flow through these frozen sections of pipe easily. If they freeze, then the pressure in the pipe will build up and could cause it to crack or even explode.

This can cause water damage to your home and may lead to expensive repairs. But if you insulate these pipes properly before winter, this is less likely to happen and could save yourself a lot of heartache and money.

How Cold Does It Have To Be For Pipes To Freeze In A Crawl Space?

A person’s home is their safe haven, and the last thing they want to worry about when it comes time for winter is a frozen pipes!

The freezing point for water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which means in order to have pipes freeze there needs be at least six hours with an outside temperature below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

How Do You Insulate Pipes In A Crawl Space?

There are several things that you can do to protect the pipes in your crawl space when winter comes.

  • Foam pipe insulation (that you can get at your local hardware store) should be wrapped around as much of your pipes as you can access.
  • Wrap electrical heating tape around the pipes in your crawl space for some extra insulation.
  • Having an insulated crawl space can also help to keep your pipes from freezing as well. You can do this yourself or hire a professional for the job.
  • Bring in a source of heat to the crawl space and place it close to your pipes during the coldest winter days/nights. This could be a low-watt light bulb or a space heater. We recommend to call your local fire department and ask them to check your crawl space area and counsel you on whether or not these are a safe option for you.
  • Turning up the heat in your home can also help to heat your crawl space too.
  • Open your kitchen cupboards so that the heat from the house gets into those areas that are by an outside wall.
  • Turn a faucet on so that water drips (leave it on while the temperature is 20 degrees or lower). This forces water to run through the pipes and helps to prevent sitting water from freezing.

We hope that this article has given you a few new ideas on how to keep your pipes in your crawl space from freezing in the winter. If, after reading it, you still have questions or would like more information about these tips and tricks – feel free to contact us! We’re happy to help with all of your plumbing needs.

If you have any questions about protecting your pipes or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.