House Flood in the Winter
How to Prevent Your Pipes From Bursting
DEC 2nd, 2019 by Rebecca Wallace
Winter is the most common time of year for pipes to burst, especially in cold weather climates. As temperatures drop, water in pipes starts to expand as it turns to ice and raises the pressure in the pipes. Once the pressure gets to be too large, the pipe will burst. Once a pipe is burst, over 250 gallons of water per day can pour out of the pipes into your home. Not only does this cause a huge headache, but it can cause structural damage, mold growth and of course, flooding. There are key things you can do to help minimize the risk of burst pipes in colder months.
STEPS TO TAKE TO PREVENT AGAINST BURST PIPES
1. Insulate pipes that are exposed to cold air. There areas include the attic, crawl space, cellar, etc
2. Leave your faucets slightly open so they drip. This can help the water to continually flow so that the pressure cannot build up in the pipes.
3. Seal all cracks and gaps in the walls by exposed pipes to help prevent cold air from entering the home.
4. Open up cabinet doors that have access to exposed pipes so warm air from in the home can circulate by the pipes.
5. Shut off water to outside hoses and faucets.
EXTRA STEPS TO TAKE WHILE OUT OF TOWN
1. Turn off main water line to home and flush water lines in home and on property.
2. Set the thermostat no lower than 50*F.
STEPS TO TAKE IN THE EVENT OF A BURST PIPE
1. Immediately get the main water line shut off. This sometimes means calling the water company to do so.
2. Call an emergency restoration company. Make sure they are 24/7/365, available to come out immediately, IICRC certified for water restoration, are licensed, insured, and have a good working relationship with home owners insurance companies.
3. Call a plumber to come out to take care of the pipes.
4. Call your home owners insurance company to get a claim started.
Dealing with burst pipes, water damage and mold is something we hope no one ever needs to go through. Follow the tips listed and your chances of it happening will go down substantially. However, if you do find yourself in the situation of having it happen, know that there is help available to get your home back in order.
