Frozen Pipes: 3 Effective Water Damage Prevention Tips

11/23/2022 (Permalink)

The professionals at SERVPRO can help mitigate any amount of damage caused by frozen pipes.

Frozen pipes can result in severe water damage to your home if they unexpectedly burst.

It's that time of year again when the temperature starts to drop. Unfortunately, as the weather becomes colder, the professionals at SERVPRO of Union, Towns, Fannin & Gilmer Counties begin receiving an influx of calls from customers with frozen or burst pipes. While frozen pipes are most common in unheated home areas, such as basements, attics, and crawl spaces, they can occur anywhere water is present and the temperature drops below freezing.

Since frozen pipes can result in severe water damage to your home, it's essential to take steps to prevent them from happening in the first place. The following blog post will cover everything you need to know about frozen pipes and how the water damage restoration professionals at SERVPRO can help you restore your property after any size water disaster a burst pipe may cause.

What exactly causes frozen pipes?

Frozen pipes occur when the water inside them freezes and expands; this expansion either directly causes the pipe to burst or increases the pressure of the water still flowing so much that the pipe can’t handle the added stress. A pipe freeze usually happens when the temperature outside drops below freezing and water in the pipes isn't being used regularly, allowing it to cool down and freeze in the first place.

Pipes that run against exterior walls or in unheated home areas are most susceptible to freezing because they're most exposed to the cold air. When water freezes in a pipe, it can cause the pipe to burst, leading to severe water damage in your home, increasing your water bill and requiring professional restoration.

What to do when you find frozen pipes?

If you discover a frozen pipe before it bursts, turn off the water to your home using the main shut-off valve. Turning off the main water shut-off valve will help prevent any further damage and flooding.

Once the water is off, open your faucets to release any built-up water pressure in the frozen pipe. Next, use a heating device like a space heater or hair dryer to thaw the frozen pipe. Never use an open flame to thaw a frozen pipe because it can result in a fire.

After the water in the pipe is thawed, turn it back on at the main shut-off valve and check your faucets to ensure they're working correctly. If a frozen pipe has already burst, call a professional water damage company to repair the damage and prevent further flooding.

Three tips to prevent frozen pipes

Now that you know what to do when you find frozen pipes, it's also essential to understand how to prevent them. The following are three tips to avoid freezing pipes:

1. Keep your thermostat at a steady temperature: When the temperature outside starts to drop, make sure you keep your thermostat at a constituent temperature because a sudden drop in temperature can cause your pipes to freeze.
2. Allow at-risk faucets to run during cold weather: Even flow as slow as a drip during cold weather can help prevent frozen pipes because it keeps water moving through the pipes, preventing them from freezing.
3. Insulate exposed pipes: Properly insulating exposed pipes in your home helps prevent them from freezing, particularly those in the basement or garage

How can SERVPRO help if your frozen pipe bursts?

When your frozen pipe bursts, you can rely on the professionals at SERVPRO of Union, Towns, Fannin & Gilmer Counties. We have the training and experience to handle any size of water damage disaster. We will work quickly to remove any standing water and dry out your home to prevent any further damage.

SERVPRO of Union, Towns, Fannin & Gilmer Counties is an IICRC-certified water damage restoration company. We are dedicated to helping our customers restore their homes and businesses to their preloss condition. We understand the importance of a quick response time and will work quickly to mitigate further damage.

Our water damage restoration service includes:

• Water extraction
• Structural drying
• Dehumidification
• Mold Remediation

If your home has been affected by frozen pipes or any other water damage, contact SERVPRO of Union, Towns, Fannin & Gilmer Counties! We are available 24/7 and will respond quickly to any water damage disaster.