Preventing Winter Water Damage

12/4/2018 (Permalink)

The changing temperatures can wreak havoc on the pipes in your home or business. The freezing, expanding and contracting can cause pipes to crack or burst which then results in flooding. There are a number of simple preventative measures you should take to protect your home or business from a leak, some short-term and some long-term.

1. Insulation

Put adequate insulation around pipes that are vulnerable to cold air. If pipes are near an exterior wall, additional insulation or heat tape may be needed more so than pipes that are farther into the interior of your home or business.

2. Water Movement

Keep water dripping or trickling from faucets farthest from where the water main enters your home or business. This can help keep water moving through your plumbing and can help prevent frozen pipes.

3. Room Temperature

If you plan to be away for a few days or more, keep the heat in your home or business on. It's not necessarily to run your heater at full blast but enough to help prevent the freezing of pipes. It is best to maintain a regular temperature no lower 55 degrees.

4. Weather Stripping

Apply weather stripping to all doors and windows that may let in a draft. Foam strips with adhesive backing on one side can be used to fill dead air space between the door and the frame. It's best to apply these products in relatively warmer temperatures as the adhesive can have a harder time sticking in the cold.

Hopefully, these measures can help prevent the freezing of pipes in your home or business. If you do have a flood in your home due to a burst pipe, contact SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County. The sooner this problem is found, the sooner we can help address this issue before the flooding water causes massive damage. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year with crews on standby to be to your location as quickly as possible.