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December is here and the temperature outside is dropping just in time for the holiday season. While Georgia generally has mild winters, weather can be unpredictable, and temperatures can drop quickly. It’s important to understand how you can better protect your home and business. 

 It’s common for pipes to burst which causes water damage. Here are a few tips that can help:

• After the weather has warmed above freezing and any frozen pipes have thawed, turn off dripping faucets and monitor your water meter to check for unseen leaks 

• Check on pipes to your washing machine in the laundry room
  

• Close garage doors
  

• Close or cover foundation vents under the house and windows to basements
  

• Cover outside faucets with insulating foam covers
  

• Disconnect and drain garden hoses
  

• Drip hot and cold faucets in kitchen and bath (drip single control faucets with lever set in the middle)
  

• Insulate exposed pipes (both hot and cold) under the house with foam pipe insulation
  

• Keep the faucet open when thawing frozen pipes to allow water to begin flowing through it 
  

• Locate water main cut-off valve and have a cut-off key handy
  

• Open cabinet doors under sinks
  

• Set ice maker to make ice if the water line to it runs under the house
  

• Turn off sprinkler system and blow compressed air through the lines to drain them 

• Turn off water to outside faucets, if available, and open valves on faucets to allow them to drain

 

Of course if you sustain some damage to your home due to the wintery weather, please contact your local Georgia Farm Bureau agent. You can also report a claim online after registering your account or by calling 1-855-432-2567 where a friendly voice will answer your call, no matter the time.