Frozen Pipes in Atlanta: Preparing for Rare Hard Freezes

Atlanta gets freezing nights every winter, but the hard freezes that burst pipes are rare, which is why they catch homes off guard. To prepare, insulate exposed pipes, disconnect garden hoses, drain sprinkler lines, keep the heat on and let faucets drip on the coldest nights. Know where your main water shut-off is before a freeze arrives.

This guide covers how cold Atlanta really gets, what happened in recent cold snaps, how to protect your pipes, what to do if they freeze or burst, and what repairs typically cost.

How cold does it get in Atlanta?

Atlanta's winters are mostly mild, with occasional sharp cold snaps. The National Weather Service office that covers Atlanta describes north and central Georgia winters this way: stretches of mild weather often alternate with cold spells (NWS Peachtree City).

Some numbers from the National Weather Service, measured at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the official site for Atlanta:

• Average first freeze: November 13 (NWS Peachtree City).
• Average last freeze: March 20 (NWS Peachtree City).
• Freezing nights: NWS says lows of 32 degrees or lower can be expected on 50 to 70 days a year across north Georgia outside the mountains, and 40 to 50 days in central Georgia (NWS Peachtree City).
• Records: Atlanta's temperature records go back to 1878 (NWS Peachtree City).

So a frost on the windshield is normal. What's unusual is a night in the single digits or low teens, especially when the temperature stays below freezing through the day.

What have recent hard freezes looked like?

The coldest readings in recent winters show how far Atlanta can drop when Arctic air reaches the Southeast:

• December 24, 2022: Atlanta fell to 8 degrees, its lowest temperature of that year (NWS Peachtree City).
• January 17, 2024: 13 degrees, the coldest reading of winter 2023-24 (NWS Peachtree City).
• January 22, 2025: 14 degrees, the coldest reading of winter 2024-25 (NWS Peachtree City).
• January 2, 2018: 13 degrees, the coldest reading of that year (NWS Peachtree City).
• December 14, 2010: 14 degrees, breaking a record low of 15 set in 1917 (NWS Peachtree City).
• January 2010: Atlanta's coldest January since 1985, with a monthly average of 38.5 degrees (NWS Peachtree City).

None of those is an everyday event, but together they show that a hard freeze reaches Atlanta every few years. A home that has never had a problem can still have one in the next big cold snap.

What happened in Atlanta's December 2022 freeze?

The Christmas 2022 cold snap is a good example of what a rare hard freeze can do. On December 21, 2022, the governor declared a state of emergency for all 159 Georgia counties ahead of the cold (Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency). Atlanta then dropped to 8 degrees on Christmas Eve (NWS Peachtree City).

On December 27, the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management reported that below-freezing temperatures had caused water main breaks and frozen pipes on private properties across its service area (Atlanta Department of Watershed Management). The department's advice to residents was to insulate exposed pipes and disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets.

The lesson: in a city where most freezes are brief, a few days of deep cold can find every weak spot in a home's plumbing at once.

Which pipes are most likely to freeze?

Pipes freeze where cold air reaches them and household heat doesn't. The National Weather Service lists the usual spots (NWS New York):

• Basements and crawl spaces
• Attics
• Garages
• Under kitchen and bathroom cabinets, especially on outside walls

Outdoor faucets, garden hoses and sprinkler lines are also at risk, since they sit right in the cold. The National Weather Service notes that pipes along an outside wall are a common concern (NWS Albany).

How do you prepare your pipes before a hard freeze?

Most of this takes an afternoon and very little money. Do it in the fall, or as soon as a hard freeze shows up in the forecast.

Outside the house

• Disconnect garden hoses. Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management says insulating pipes and disconnecting hoses can help keep pipes from bursting (Atlanta Watershed).
• Shut off and drain outdoor faucets. UGA Extension advises disconnecting hoses, shutting off water to the outdoor faucet and draining the pipe (UGA Extension Forsyth County). The state emergency agency gives similar advice: wrap outside pipes and make sure their valves are shut off (Georgia EMA).
• Drain in-ground sprinkler systems, and cover above-ground pipes (Atlanta Watershed).

Inside the house

• Insulate pipes in unheated spaces like crawl spaces, attics, garages and basements (NWS New York).
• Seal gaps near pipes with caulk to keep cold air out (NWS New York).
• Find your main water shut-off valve and make sure you can turn it. It's usually where the main line enters the house: a basement, crawl space, garage, utility room, or outside near the meter (Fixr).

On the coldest nights

• Let faucets drip. A slow drip helps protect pipes from freezing (UGA Extension Forsyth County). The National Weather Service suggests letting hot and cold water trickle at night (NWS Albany), and running the faucet farthest from your water meter (NWS Boston).
• Open cabinet doors under sinks so warm air reaches the pipes (Georgia EMA).
• Keep the heat on. The National Weather Service says to leave the heat set no lower than 55 degrees (NWS Albany).
• If you'll be away, have someone check the house daily to make sure the heat is still on, or drain and shut off the water system (NWS Albany).

How do you know if a pipe is frozen?

The most common sign is a faucet that gives little or no water when you turn it on during a freeze, especially if other faucets still work. You may also see frost on an exposed pipe. A frozen pipe isn't always a burst pipe, but it's a warning. Water expands as it freezes and can split the pipe, and the leak often shows up only once the ice thaws.

What should you do if a pipe freezes?

Act calmly and carefully:

1. Open the faucet that the frozen pipe feeds, so water can flow once the ice starts to melt.
2. Warm the pipe slowly. Start where the pipe is most exposed to the cold. The National Weather Service suggests hot-water-soaked towels or a hand-held hair dryer, used with caution (NWS Boston).
3. Never use an open flame or a torch to thaw a pipe (NWS Albany).
4. Watch for electric shock risk around any standing water (NWS Albany). Don't use a hair dryer near water on the floor.
5. Call a plumber if you can't reach the frozen section, can't find it, or the pipe doesn't thaw.

What should you do if a pipe bursts?

A burst pipe can release a lot of water quickly. Do these things first:

• Shut off the main water valve right away.
• Stay clear of water near outlets, cords or appliances. Don't touch switches or appliances while standing in water. If you'd have to walk through water to reach the main power switch, leave it for an electrician (CDC).
• Call a plumber to repair the pipe.
• Start drying the area with fans and dehumidifiers as soon as it's safe (CDC).

Our guide on what to do when a pipe bursts goes through each step in more detail. If you see water running in the street, Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management asks residents to report it to ATL311 (Atlanta Watershed). The department notes that temperature swings shift the ground and can strain water mains (Atlanta Watershed).

If you're unsure whether you're dealing with a frozen pipe, a leak or low pressure from a problem in the street, Check my plumbing can help you sort out the likely cause before you call anyone.

How do you stay safe while keeping the house warm?

Hard freezes bring their own risks indoors. Georgia's emergency management agency recommends (Georgia EMA):

• Using electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches, kept at least three feet from furniture and drapes
• Installing and testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup
• Never using a generator, camp stove, charcoal grill, or gasoline or propane heater indoors
• Keeping generators at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents

Never leave a space heater unattended, and place it on a level, hard surface (NWS New York).

What should you check after the freeze passes?

A cracked pipe often doesn't leak until the ice inside it melts, so the day the temperature climbs back above freezing is when to look around:

• Walk the house and check under sinks, around the water heater and along walls and ceilings for drips, stains or damp spots.
• Look in the crawl space or basement if you can do so safely, especially near pipes that run along outside walls.
• Check outdoor faucets before you reconnect hoses. Turn each one on briefly and watch for water where it shouldn't be.
• Test the sprinkler system zone by zone in spring, watching for spraying or pooling water.
• Watch your water bill for a jump you can't explain, which can point to a hidden leak.

If you find a leak, shut off the main valve and call a plumber.

What does frozen or burst pipe repair cost?

These are national ranges as of 2026, read on the pages linked. We don't have Atlanta-specific pricing, so treat these as a starting point and get a written quote.

• Thawing frozen pipes: may cost a flat rate of $100 (Fixr).
• Typical burst pipe repair: $200 to $1,000, with a national average of $500 (Fixr).
• Frozen pipe burst repair and other pipe repairs: $150 to $5,000 (Fixr).
• Burst pipe inside a wall: $150 to $500, plus $75 to $700 to repair drywall (Fixr).
• Sprinkler pipe repair: $150 to $350 (Fixr).
• Burst pipes (another national estimate): $1,000 to $4,000 (This Old House).
• Water damage restoration: $1,200 to $5,000 on average (Fixr).

What changes the price?

• Where the pipe is. A pipe in an open crawl space is easier to reach than one inside a finished wall or ceiling.
• How much pipe is damaged. Fixr notes that frozen pipes can mean a longer section needs repair (Fixr).
• Water damage. Drywall, flooring and drying often cost more than the pipe itself.
• Timing. During a citywide freeze, many homes need a plumber at once, so you may wait longer.

For a fuller look at general plumbing rates, see our guide to what plumbers cost.

What should you ask a plumber after a freeze?

• Where did the pipe freeze or burst, and why there?
• Are there other exposed pipes I should insulate or reroute?
• Should any pipes in the crawl space, attic or garage be better protected?
• Can you check my outdoor faucets and sprinkler lines for damage?
• Is there a service-call fee, and does it go toward the repair?
• Can I get the price in writing before you start?
• Is your work guaranteed, and for how long?

What's the takeaway for Atlanta homeowners?

Hard freezes don't come every winter in Atlanta, but they come often enough to plan for. A short checklist each fall covers most of the risk: hoses off, outdoor faucets drained, sprinklers drained, exposed pipes insulated and the shut-off valve found. Then, when the forecast calls for the teens, add the drip, open the cabinets and keep the heat on. If the water pressure seems low after a freeze, our guide to low water pressure in the whole house covers the likely causes.