Georgia leads the list in frozen pipe claims, State Farm says

AUGUSTA, Ga. - As subfreezing weather takes aim at the CSRA, here’s a chilling statistic: The Peach State ranks No. 1 in the nation for paid State Farm insurance claims related to frozen pipes.

Georgians received $100 million in claims from August 2022 to August 2023, according to the company. That’s about 12.4% of State Farm’s national total for frozen pipes in that period, $806 million.

The top 10 states for paid frozen pipe claims are:

Georgia: $100 million
Illinois: $78.3 million
Tennessee: $61.9 million
Texas: $58.1 million
New York: $45 million
Ohio: $37.5 million
Pennsylvania: $30.7 million
Missouri: $27.5 million
Arkansas: $24.4 million
Colorado: $23.8 million

This January, Georgia faces a bitter cold. An arctic blast is expected to usher in sub-freezing temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday, then again over the weekend.

Here are some tips from State Farm to help prevent pipes from freezing:

Let warm water drip from the faucets overnight
Insulate your pipes
Seal any leaks that could let cold air near the pipes
Disconnect garden hoses
Set your thermostat above 55 degrees
Open cabinet doors to let heat near non-insulated pipes

Pipes don’t always burst when they freeze. If your pipes freeze, State Farm recommends calling a plumber. You may also use a hair dryer to thaw the pipe if there isn’t standing water or flammable materials nearby, the company said. Don’t use an open flame.

If the pipes do burst, State Farm says you should shut off the water supply at the main shutoff valve while leaving the water faucets turned on.

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