Hello and welcome back to the blog here at Rainbow International of Buffalo! As we move into the cold months, and a snowstorm is looming, we thought it would be a great time to share some tips from the Red Cross to protect your pipes from freezing – and ultimately to prevent your home from flooding.
Why Are Freezing Pipes a Problem?
Water has a rather unique property that other liquids don’t exhibit, in that it expands when it freezes. In your pipes, this can cause extreme pressure and lead to them rupturing from the expansion. Many pipes can freeze, and the most frequent ones we tend to see are pipes exposed to extreme cold, like water sprinkler lines and swimming pool supply lines, and water supply lines in unheated interior areas (like your basement or attic). We also see ruptures in pipes that run along exterior walls with little insulation.
Protect Your Pipes From Freezing
Before your pipes completely freeze in the coldest months, follow this advice to make sure that your home isn’t a winter flood victim!
- Drain water from your swimming pool and sprinkler supply lines, without using antifreeze (unless specifically directed by the manufacturer)
- Remove, drain, and store hoses that are used outdoors. Close inside valves that supply outdoor hoses, while leaving the outdoor connection open to allow the water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so that any leftover water can expand without causing a break.
- Insulate areas of your home that are uninsulated, like your attic, basement, crawl spaces, etc.
- Check around for other uninsulated areas of your home where pipes can be, like in the garage and under cabinets. Both hot and cold water pipes should be insulated.
- Consider getting products specifically designed to insulate water pipes.
- Think about relocating exposed pipes for increased protection.
Preventing Frozen Pipes
Alright, that is all good and relevant information, but many of those steps require set up time and money that you might not have immediately available. Here are some tips to prevent frozen pipes:
- Keep garage doors closed if you have water supply lines there
- Open cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate
- When the air outside is exceptionally frigid, let water drip from the faucet that sources from exposed pipes. Running water doesn’t freeze as easily as still water.
- Keep your home’s thermostat set to the same temperature throughout the day. Your heating bill may go up a bit, but it could prevent a more costly repair job if a pipe bursts.
- If you’re leaving your home for an extended period, keep your home’s heat set to at least 55 degrees.
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION PROFESSIONALS
Cleaning up after significant water damage, before mold sets in, is a large job. These kinds of jobs are best handled by a team of fully-licensed professionals. We’re a fully IICRC Certified Restoration and Mitigation team for water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold remediation, and commercial and residential carpet cleaning. We haven’t met a water damage problem we haven’t conquered!
Make sure to stay up to date with our blog for mold, water, and fire and smoke damage prevention tips and advice on cleaning up small messes and the like. You can follow along on our Facebook and check out our reviews on Yelp! Stay safe in your home or business!
Get in touch with us by filling out our convenient online contact form, or if you need immediate assistance, call us at 716-874-4919. Let’s make the cleanup as quick and effective as possible.
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