Don't Let The Cold Weather Freeze Your Pipes!

11/21/2021 (Permalink)

If your pipes have burst, turn off the water right away. Call us now at (812) 242-9611 to get started.

During the winter months, you need to be careful to ensure you do not get frozen pipes. Water can freeze in your pipes, causing problems that can lead to expensive repairs and costly cleanup efforts. Here is what you need to know about frozen pipes:

Why Your Pipes Freeze

When you turn on a faucet, water flows through your pipes and out the faucet. But when you shut the water off, the water that is flowing through the pipes sits there. When temperatures begin to freeze outside, it can cause the water in your pipes to also freeze.

Why You Shouldn’t Let Them Freeze

When water freezes, it expands. This can cause the pipe to crack or burst open. When the ice begins to thaw out, it turns to water which can then leak into your home, causing major water damage. Worse, if you do not know that the pipe has burst, you may turn on your water and cause flooding.

How You Can Prevent Them from Freezing

Frozen pipes can be catastrophic. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to prevent pipes from freezing in your home:

• One of the best things that you can do is to insulate your pipes. When you insulate your pipes, it helps the pipes to stay warmer.
• Another thing you can do is to set the temperature in your home no lower than 55 degrees. This helps to keep the pipes warm and prevents them from freezing.
• If you are going away or out of town, you can allow the faucet to slowly drip to prevent the pipes from freezing. This ensures water is always moving, minimizing the chances of it freezing.
• Lastly, you can apply heat tape to your pipes. If your pipes have frozen, you will want to turn on the faucets and use heat to thaw the pipes. A plumber can assist you with this.

If your pipes have burst, turn off the water right away. Then contact a professional to clean up the water as quickly as possible. The longer water sits, the more likely it is that mold problems and water damage can occur. Here at SERVPRO of Vigo County, we provide fire and water cleanup 24/7. Call us now at (812) 242-9611 to get started.