With winter temperatures firmly entrenched in some parts of the country and winter weather soon approaching in others, now is the perfect time to inspect the pipes in your home. Last year’s record cold temperatures across much of the country taught a lot of property owners the value in having well-insulated pipes.

In the winter of 2013-2014, cold temperatures caused tens of thousands of properties around the country to experience frozen pipes–leading to leaks and water damage in homes and businesses.

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

There are many simple things you can do to minimize the risk of your pipes freezing this winter. Some of the most effective methods include:

• Disconnecting your gardening hoses and installing covers on outdoor faucets
• Open the cabinet doors in your kitchen and bathrooms to let the heat from the house to circulate around the pipes.
• Keep the interior temperature at 68 degrees or higher, even if you plan to be away from the property for several days or weeks.
• Close open-air vents. Windy drafts and sub-freezing temperatures can make pipes freeze easier.
• Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home like the garage, basement, and crawlspace.
• Wrap pipes closest to exterior walls and in crawl spaces with heating tape. This is a simple and cheap, but effective method to prevent pipe freezes.
• During exceptionally code temperatures, let your faucet drinp slightly with lukewarm water to minimize freezing

What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze

If it is too late and your pipes have already frozen, there are several different things you can do depending on the situation. If the pipe or faucet is inside your property, you may be able to thaw it with a hair dryer. You can also try wraping hot towels around the cold sections of the pipe to thaw the ice inside.

If your pipes have frozen to the point they have actually burst, shut off the main water valve immediately. Call a plumber to have the pipes replaced. Minimal water damage may be able to be repaired by the plumber, or on your own, but if water has permeated the walls and flooring, you will likely need the assistance of a water damage restoration company to assess the damage and make any repairs if necessary.

Water Damage Restoration From Action Restoration

If you have experienced water damage at your home or business in the U.S. Gulf Coast region from a frozen or burst pipe, contact Action Restoration today! We will provide you with a comprehensive assessment of the damage that has been done to your property and an estimate of the cost and amount of time it will take to repair. We will assist you with your insurance claims to ensure that everything is filed correctly so that your repairs can begin as quickly as possible.

Contact us today by filling out a contact form or calling at 800-760-9081 today to get started!

Action Restoration provides water damage repair in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.