How To Prevent Water Damage Restoration From Frozen Pipes
On average, Raleigh gets around 6 inches of snow in the winter. Sleet and freezing rain are also common winter occurrences, and ice storms have been known to make appearances during these cold months also. With winter in full swing, how can you protect your susceptible pipes from freezing during all this cold weather?
Here are some steps from our team at Proven Professional that you can take when the temperature drops below 32 degrees to prevent needing water damage restoration in your home from frozen pipes.
Set your thermostat to 65 degrees or higher, and keep it there all day and night. Temperature fluctuation can create a greater risk for frozen pipes, especially for pipes that are located along the exterior surfaces of your home. Ensure that every interior door is open so the heat can circulate throughout your home.
Any outside water sources should be drained and turned off, including exterior hoses and lawn sprinkler systems. You can install frost-proof spigots or even use faucet insulators to prevent them from freezing and causing water to back up into your home.
Make sure the exterior walls of your home have adequate insulation. Exterior walls containing pipes that are not properly insulated leave those pipes susceptible to cold temperatures and at a much higher risk of freezing. You may even want to contemplate re-insulating or utilizing spray foam to enhance protection from the cold if you have recurring frozen pipes or your walls feel cold to the touch.
In areas of your home that do not have heat (think attics, crawl spaces, garages, cold storage, etc.), cover pipes with insulation. You can find different insulation options for your pipes at most hardware stores. Additionally, heated plumbing take or cable that activates when the temperature gets close to freezing can also be used to give pipes extra protection from the cold.
Utilize the cutting-edge equipment available today, such as low-temperature sensors, smart thermostats, backup generators, and water leak detection systems to help prevent frozen pipes from leaving you in need of water damage restoration.
If You Have Pipes That Appear To Be Frozen, We Suggest You Do The Following:
Keep the faucet open and turn on both the cold and hot water to gradually defrost the pipe and allow the water to run out of the pipe as it thaws.
Increase the temperature on your thermostat to make the air warmer and use space heaters or fans to help concentrate and circulate the warm air around the frozen pipe or pipes.
If you are unsure of where the freeze is, call a licensed plumber so you can get the pipe thawed in the right place and avoid a burst from built-up pressure – which will also, unfortunately, lead to water damage.
If You Have A Pipe Burst, Here Is What You Should Do:
Turn off the water supply to the pipe to stop more water from flowing into your home and causing more damage. Water damage restoration is pretty straightforward when the damage is minimal, but if water is continued to cause damage, it can result in more extensive problems.
Don’t hesitate to call the water damage restoration experts at Proven Professional for additional help. Water damage is never easy to handle, let alone in the wintertime with frozen pipes, and you need a team you can rely on.
On average, Raleigh gets around 6 inches of snow in the winter. Sleet and freezing rain are also common winter occurrences, and ice storms have been known to make appearances during these cold months also. With winter in full swing, how can you protect your susceptible pipes from freezing during all this cold weather? 