Winter Temperatures Can Lead To Frozen Pipes and Property Damage

1/24/2022 (Permalink)

Shut off your water immediately if you notice a pipe leaking.

It's that time of year again! We are slipping and sliding all over the roads. We can see our breath when we open our front door, and we are forced to once again wear gloves, a scarf, and the dreaded stocking cap! 

The winter wonderland maybe serene outside, but the colder it gets, the more your inside pipes have a risk of bursting. When the temperature drops below 32 degrees, the water inside pipes can start to freeze.  When this happens, the pipe starts to expand causing it to crack.  A minimal sized crack can lead to costly water damage once the water starts to thaw.  

Water damage is among the most common causes of insurance claims. The damage left behind from a burst pipe can range all across the board.  If the crack was large and water was gushing out or has continued to leak for days, you may be looking at some severe damage. 

The sooner you are able to address the issue the less damage you have.  Hard wood flooring affected by a category 1 loss (clean water from a burst pipe) can be saved if treated in a timely manner. If you wait two weeks to report the claim to your insurance company, the water damage can turn into mold damage. 

Tips to prevent frozen pipes: 

• Make sure your gutters are free of debris so melting snow and ice can flow freely through the gutter.
• Allow your faucet to drip cold water slowly.  Flowing water will prevent freezing. 
• Do not lower the temperature in the winter months even when you are home. 
• Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow warm air to circulate. 
• If you are away for an extended period of time winterize your pipes by having them drained. 
• If you are away, also have your neighbor check on your home. 
• Disconnect your garden hose and install covers on outside faucets. 
• Wrap pipes near exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation
• Supplies are available at your local hardware and are relatively inexpensive. 
• Make sure heating vents are open in all the rooms. Especially in the basement where it is the coldest. 
• Consider weather sealing your windows to prevent drafts. 
• Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home. 

What to do if your pipes freeze: 

• Heat up the pipe with a blow dryer, space heater, heating pad or warm towels until the water can freely flow through the pipe.
• Start thawing it nearest to the faucet. Open the faucet slightly so the water can be released as it starts to thaw.

If your pipe bursts:

• Locate your water shut off valve and turn off the main water supply. This will prevent water from continuing to pour out.
• Call a plumber to fix the pipe. Clean up services cannot begin until the source of the main issue has been fixed. 
• Contact your insurance agent to notify them of your loss and they can assist you in filing a claim. 

If water damage does strike your home or business, give us a call! We are faster to any disaster and are here to get you back to “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at (708)532-3377.