Protect your pipes in freezing weather

11/12/2018 (Permalink)

It doesn't take a large hole in a pipe to make a big water mess. Burst pipe in Evergreen, CO

SERVPRO Golden, Wheat Ridge, Evergreen 303-279-8055 is your local, industry leader in water restoration. Our phones are answered locally 24/7, our crews are on call 24 hours a day and our technicians are trained and certified IICRC Water Restoration Professionals. 

When cold weather hits, frozen pipes can cause extensive and expensive damage to a home. According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) water damage from a burst pipe can easily cost $5000, more if no one is home at the time of the loss. 

With a few simple and inexpensive steps, a home owner can prevent frozen pipes and avoid the nightmare of water damage. Before temperatures start to drop follow these simple guidelines to avoid burst pipes and those phone calls to your plumber and SERVPRO Golden, Wheat Ridge, Evergreen. 

• Drain water from exterior hoses and supply lines. Sprinkler systems should be winterized BEFORE the temperatures start to fluctuate.
• Shut off exterior water (if possible) and leave the outside valve open, allowing any remaining water in the pipe to expand without causing a broken pipe.
• Insulate interior pipes (hot and cold) that are along exterior walls (think kitchen sinks, garages, attics, crawlspaces) Inexpensive foam pipe insulation is available at hardware and building supply 

When winter strikes and the temperatures are freezing

• Keep garage doors closed if supply lines run through garage.
• Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks allowing air and heat to better circulate around plumbing.
• Let cold water drip or trickle from all faucets until the freeze is over. 
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature day and night. The heating bill might be a little higher for a few days, but steady heat can prevent frozen and burst pipes.
• IF the house will be vacant during cold weather, leave the heat set no lower than 55° F. 

IF after these precautions you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, you can safely suspect a frozen pipe. Keep the faucet open as you search for the frozen blockage. Once found warm the pipe by wrapping an electric heating pad around the pipe, or use an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater or wrap pipes with towels soaked in hot water. DO NOT use a blow torch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove or other open flame device. Check all the faucets in your home as more than one pipe could have frozen. 

Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate, access or thaw the frozen pipe, call a licensed plumber. In the event of a burst pipe, call a licensed plumber to repair the break and then call SERVPRO Golden, Wheat Ridge, Evergreen 303-279-8055 we will respond quickly to your water loss and work to make it “Like it never even happened.”