FROZEN PIPE & WATER DAMAGE: TIPS FOR WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCIES

12/18/2016 (Permalink)

If you find a crack in your pipe, call a plumber for advice before doing anything else.

When winter temperatures are at their coldest, the last thing you want to deal with is water damage. Powerful winter storms fueled by freezing temperatures and extreme winds, means that frozen pipes as well as flooding are very real possibilities.  The most frequent calls we receive in the winter are usually caused by these types of disasters.

Frozen Pipes

In areas that drop below freezing, it’s always important to stay vigilant about preventing frozen pipes during the winter—but especially if a building is new, recently remodeled or vacant.

Frozen pipes can usually be prevented by closely inspecting all areas of your building where temperatures could drop below freezing and then taking preventative measures, such as adding pipe insulation, sealing openings, or adding a heat source.

If you do locate a frozen pipe, these steps can reduce the likelihood of it bursting:

• Turn off water to the building at the main water shutoff valve
• Inspect the pipe closely for cracks and note any that you find
• If you find cracks, call a plumber for advice before doing anything else
• If there is no damage present, add a space heater to the area or use a hair dryer to gradually warm the pipe. If the outside temperature is expected to rise, you can also wait for the pipe to thaw on its own before turning the water back on. PROCEED WITH CAUTION: Never use any type of open flame or torch to thaw pipes.

If a pipe has already burst, then you’re dealing with different headaches, which leads well into our next topic.

Resources to Handle Water Damage from Frozen Pipes

When storms hit, we can scale our resources to handle a large winter storm or flooding disaster. We can access resources equipment and personnel from a network of 1,700 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.  Large or small, we have the resources to remove and repair your water damage. 

Have water damage from a frozen pipe? Call Us Today 781-341-7007