3 ‘Cold-Proofing’ Tips To Avoid the need for Flood Damage Restoration Services

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: The flood damage restoration experts at SERVPRO run through three simple tips that Haltom City, TX, residents can take to keep freezing temperatures from destroying their pipes. Learn how to prevent this or what you can do to clean up any water damage if your plumbing does burst.

What To Do To Prevent a Cold Front From Bursting Pipes

The water in pipes can freeze as the outside temperature drops, and if enough ice collects, those pipes will expand and eventually burst. Emergency flood damage restoration and replacing plumbing can be costly unplanned expenses. Thankfully, there are a handful of different ways homeowners can combat the elements. 

It’s fairly simple to keep the pipes warm enough to prevent flood damage restoration from becoming unavoidable. SERVPRO, one of the premier water restoration companies in the country, has identified these three tips as the most effective ways people can prevent cold fronts from causing a plumbing disaster.

3 Ways To Keep Your Plumbing Safe in Winter

#1: Keep Your Building Warm

The most straightforward way to combat a cold front is to counter it with warm air. So if homeowners can keep their house well-heated during the year’s coldest months, they will not have to worry about burst pipes and the property damage and mold removal that comes with them.

However, it is not enough to run the heater during the day. People who turn their home’s HVAC system off before bed are giving the freezing air eight hours on average to wreak havoc on your plumbing and during the coldest parts of the day as well.

The Department of Energy recommends keeping homes heated to 68 degrees during the daytime and leaving the thermostat running at a lower temperature throughout the night.

#2: Weather-Proof Your Pipes

There are ways to keep pipes themselves heated beyond a constantly running HVAC, the most popular and effective being insulation sleeves.

Insulation sleeves made of fiberglass or durable foam act as a coat for exposed pipes, wrapping around the plumbing and preventing it from freezing. 

There are a handful of other heating products for pipes as well, such as heat tape and electric heating cables. These items are available at most home improvement stores or through a commercial cleaning service.

#3: Leave Your Faucets Running Slowly

If the water in pipes is allowed to sit still for long enough, it runs a high risk of freezing over and creating catastrophic plumbing and water damage. 

The most effective way to keep water from freezing is to keep it running. Even if it’s just a light trickle, consistently moving water can ward off any potential icing in pipes. While this can slightly increase water bills, that added utility cost is mild compared to the services of mold remediation companies that homeowners would need after a burst pipe.

Water Damage Restoration From SERVPRO

Pipes can still burst even when homeowners take all the proper precautions. And when they do, they create a world of problems to your property. While anyone can attempt water cleanup and flood damage restoration on their own, it will be more challenging and costly than hiring a local team of experts to handle the job. 

So, when a plumbing disaster strikes, homeowners in Haltom City, TX, can trust SERVPRO of Northeast Ft. Worth to take care of the problem quickly and correctly. SERVPRO can safely clean any water damage with professionalism, reliability, and affordability that other water damage restoration companies cannot offer.

Call SERVPRO today at (817) 741-5737 to schedule water damage restoration or flood damage restoration services.