Frozen Pipes

1/26/2018 (Permalink)

This is a pipe from a local business that had burst and caused a water loss due to freezing temperatures.

This winter has been an especially cold one with temperatures often dropping below the freezing level. Due to this, SERVPRO of Burlington/Middlebury has experienced a high volume of emergency water losses caused by freezing pipes, often leaving behind major disasters in homes and businesses.

Be Prepared:

• It is important to know where your water shut off is located. In the case of a frozen water pipe burst, you will first want to stop the source by shutting off the water immediately.
• Insulate exposed pipes, especially if they are in unheated rooms.
• Leave open bathroom and kitchen sink cabinet doors during extreme cold spells to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
• During below zero weather, keep a slow trickle or constant drip of water flowing through faucets. Water is less likely to freeze if it is constantly traveling rather than sitting in the plumbing.
• Keep your heat set to the same temperature both day and night.
• If you plan on being away from your property for an extended period of time, leave the heat on and set the thermostat to at least 55°F.DO NOT turn your heat off completely.

If You Discover Frozen Pipes:

• First sign of freezing is reduced or slow moving water flow from a faucet.
• Do not use an open flame device to try and thaw the pipes.
• Methods you can try to unfreeze the pipes on your own include using a hair dryer, heating pad or hot towels, heat lamp or portable space heater.
• Make sure to keep the faucet open when treating the frozen pipes.
• Check additional pipes and faucets for freezing.

When a Frozen Pipe Bursts:

• Shut off the water at the main valve.
• Contact your local plumber to repair the broken pipe.

Call your local water restoration professionals, SERVPRO of Burlington/Middlebury.  A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed quickly. If winter weather causes water damage to your home or business, call SERVPRO of Burlington/Middlebury.