Helpful Preventative Tips: Pipe Breaks

1/14/2014 (Permalink)

Pipe Breaks are one of the most common water damages that we receive from December to March at SERVPRO. When water freezes it expands. Therefore, if water freezes in a pipe, the pipe can expand enough to the point that it bursts. However, it’s not necessarily the frozen water that caused the direct burst. It is the water pressure between the ice and the closed faucet. That pressure is enough to break a pipe and cause a  water damage in your home or office.

Helpful Preventative Tips:

· Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells. This allows warm air to circulate around pipes.

· Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets, especially if the pipes run through unheated or  uninsulated areas of your home and business.

· Keep your home at a temperature no lower than 55°F (12°C).

· When going away, ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it’s warm enough to prevent freezing.

· Seal leaks that allow cold air inside where pipes are located. Use caulk or insulation to keep the heat in.

· Insulate pipes in crawl spaces and the attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing.