Tips to Avoid Frozen Water Pipes

03 Jan Tips to Avoid Frozen Water Pipes

Avoid Frozen Water Pipes

Do you think a burst pipe can’t happen to you? Think again. According to the American Insurance Association, most homes in the U.S. will have water damage in their basement at some time. Plumbing failures and burst pipes are the two top reasons for those damages, which have an average repair cost of $20,000.

Prevention is key to avoiding frozen pipes. With winter here, the following tips will help you prevent pipes from freezing and bursting as the temperature drops.

Be a Drip

• On below-freezing days, let water drip or trickle slowly through your faucets.
• Remember to shut off water flow to outside bibs.
• Occasionally flush the toilets to keep water moving through the pipes.

Insulate and Seal

• Look for air leaks around pipes, windows, and entryways. Seal them with caulk or insulation.
• Disconnect all outside hoses and sprinklers.
• Use heat tape on your pipes to insulate them.

Keep Temperatures Even

• Insulate attics and crawlspaces where pipes are often located.
• Open the cabinets that house your pipes to allow warm indoor air to hit them.
• Keep your thermostat at roughly the same temperature day and night.

Away from Home

If you’re traveling or you have a vacation home, or there’s another reason the house won’t be lived in for a few days, keep the pipes safe by doing the following.

• Leave the thermostat at 55 degrees or higher.
• If possible, ask a neighbor to regularly check that your house isn’t icy cold.
• Drain the pipes by shutting off the water valve and running the faucets until water stops coming out.

Freeze Frame

If your pipes freeze despite your best efforts, you can still stop them from bursting if you take quick action.

• Try using a hair dryer on the pipe to warm it slowly.
• Don’t use any electrical appliance if you’re standing in water.
• Don’t use a torch or other source of fire to thaw the pipe.
• If no water is coming out of your faucets, turn off the water supply and call an emergency plumber.

If the Pipes Burst

If the worst happens and your pipes burst, act quickly. A burst pipe is an emergency and you need to make sure the damage doesn’t get worse.

• Shut off the main water supply. Everyone in the family should know where this switch is and how to turn it off or on.
• Flush the toilets and run the water faucets until the water is drained out and the leak stops.
• Discover where the leak is and determine if the break is small enough to temporarily fix yourself.
• Call a professional restoration service to remove the water and restore the damage.

What We Can Do

• We provide complete water extraction, cleaning and sanitizing.
• We work to restore your water-soaked belongings, including furniture and carpet.
• We use our proven, patented PureScience methods to eradicate mold, toxins, germs, and odors.
• If necessary, we provide a second tier of service that includes contracting for structural repairs.
• We handle insurance and contracting paperwork for you.
• We guarantee our services and our immediate response.

Emergency Water Damage Help

So, when the worst of winter arrives in Virginia be prepared. Taking the right steps now will help keep your pipes safe. If the worst happens, call Carpet Keepers and Pure Restore. We’re available 24-7 to give you the help you need emergency water damage needs.