A pipe froze overnight, or it split and is spraying water
Pickens County sits in the north Georgia mountains, and a hard freeze can catch pipes that run through crawl spaces, unheated garages, exterior walls and well houses. A frozen pipe is a warning; a burst pipe is an emergency. The difference often shows up only when the ice thaws in the afternoon and water starts spraying from a split that was sealed by ice that morning.
If water is already escaping, close your main shutoff before doing anything else, and turn off power to any wet electrical equipment. If the pipe is frozen but intact, you have a little time, and the steps below are about thawing it slowly without creating a new problem. None of them require tools beyond a hair dryer, towels and a flashlight. Anything more involved, including cutting out a damaged section, is work for a licensed plumber.
Thawing a frozen line without making it worse
Open the faucet that the frozen pipe feeds, both hot and cold sides, so melting ice has somewhere to go and pressure can escape. Apply gentle heat to the pipe starting from the faucet end and working back toward the frozen section: a hair dryer, a space heater kept well away from anything flammable, or towels soaked in warm water. Never use an open flame or a torch on a pipe inside a wall or crawl space.
Keep checking along the length of the pipe once water starts to flow. A split may only reveal itself when pressure returns, which is why the main shutoff should stay within easy reach. If you cannot find or reach the frozen section, or it sits inside a finished wall, stop and call a plumber rather than opening walls yourself.
If the house is on a private well, check the well house and any exposed pipe near the pressure tank too. Those are common freeze points, and a split there means the pump may keep running and pushing water out.
What the lost water costs at Jasper and county rates
Water lost through a split pipe is metered like any other water. City of Jasper customers pay by tier, and the city's sewer charge follows the same tiers, so a burst pipe can add to both lines of the bill when the home is on city sewer. County customers with a 3/4-inch meter pay the top residential tier in the table below once usage climbs past 5,000 gallons in a month. The Jasper leak cost calculator turns a leak rate into the extra charges for one month.
The Pickens County rate sheet says the water authority is not responsible for water loss on the customer's side of the meter. Its Policy #8 does allow a one-time adjustment per meter location in a two-year period, but only for consumption greater than 40,000 gallons and/or a balance of $300 or higher, contested within 30 days of the billing date. Smaller leaks are set up on a payment plan instead. The leak adjustment guide covers the full policy.
| System | Tier | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Jasper, inside city limits | Over 10,000 gallons | $5.10 per 1,000 gallons | City of Jasper rate schedule |
| City of Jasper, outside city limits | Over 10,000 gallons | $7.65 per 1,000 gallons | City of Jasper rate schedule |
| Pickens County Water & Sewer Authority (3/4-inch meter) | Above 5,000 gallons | $7.53 per 1,000 gallons | Pickens County Water Rate Sheet |
Water still moving? Close your own shutoff valve first, then send a Free Quote Request.
Free Quote RequestAfter the thaw: inspect before you trust the line
Once the pipe is flowing again, turn the main back on slowly and watch the meter with every fixture closed. A meter that keeps moving means water is still going somewhere. Look along ceilings, under sinks, around the water heater and in the crawl space for drips or damp insulation. A small split that seeps rather than sprays can soak a subfloor for days before anyone notices.
Damaged sections should be replaced rather than patched. Inside the City of Jasper, a permit is required before installing, repairing or replacing plumbing systems regulated by the technical codes, and the city applies the 2024 International Plumbing Code with Georgia amendments to permits issued on or after January 1, 2026. Ordinary minor repairs can be made without a permit only with the building official's approval. The permit question is covered in the Jasper and Pickens County plumbing permit guide.
What to tell the plumber when you call
A clear description speeds up an emergency visit. Say where the break is, whether the water is now off at the main or only at a fixture valve, and whether water reached ceilings, walls or electrical outlets. Mention whether the home is on City of Jasper water, Pickens County water or a private well, since that decides who handles anything on the street side of the meter. Photos of the break and of the meter dial help a plumber bring the right fittings. Keep notes on when the leak started and stopped; they matter for an insurance claim and for any bill adjustment request.
Preparing for the next freeze
The county's water department page lists household water facts that point to the places freeze damage hides: toilets, washing machines, showers and faucets account for most daily use, and leaks account for 13.8% on its chart. The practical lesson is that hoses and fittings fail quietly. Before winter, disconnect garden hoses, insulate pipes in crawl spaces and garages, and learn where your main shutoff is. If you will be away during a freeze, ask a plumber whether your system can be drained.
If a pipe has burst and the water is off, the Free Quote Request on this page sends your details to an independent plumber who serves Pickens County. For a first-hour checklist that covers other emergencies too, see what to do in a Jasper plumbing emergency.
Where these facts come from: City of Jasper: Water and Sewer Rate Schedule, effective August 1, 2024 (PDF); Pickens County Water & Sewer Authority: Water Rates & Meter Fees, effective January 1, 2024 (Water Rate Sheet, PDF); Pickens County Water and Sewer Authority: Policy #8, Leak Adjustments (amended February 20, 2023, PDF); Pickens County, GA: Water department page (billing, disconnect schedule, water-loss facts); City of Jasper: Article IV, Building Permits and Certificates (PDF); City of Jasper: Building Department (2026 codes, permit fees, inspections). Checked 2026-10-26.
Describe the problem once. Independent plumbers who work in Pickens County can follow up.
Free Quote RequestQuestions Pickens County homeowners ask
Should I use a torch to thaw a frozen pipe?
No. Use gentle heat such as a hair dryer or warm towels, open the faucet first, and work from the faucet end toward the frozen section. Never use an open flame inside a wall or crawl space.
Will Pickens County adjust my bill after a burst pipe?
Policy #8 allows a one-time adjustment per meter location in two years for consumption greater than 40,000 gallons and/or a balance of $300 or higher, if contested within 30 days of the billing date.
Does replacing a burst section need a permit in Jasper?
Inside the city, Article IV requires a permit to repair or replace regulated plumbing; ordinary minor repairs need the building official's approval to skip the permit.