At Certified Disaster Services, we help people facing disasters like flooding, house fires, and storm damage. However, sometimes disasters come from within the home, like frozen water pipes. If you’re experiencing the effects of frozen or burst pipes, our team can help repair the damage, conduct mold remediation, replace broken pipes, and restore your home to its rightful state.
Ideally, you wouldn’t experience any sort of home disaster and wouldn’t need our services, but we’re here to tackle the unexpected. Learning how to prevent frozen pipes can help keep at least one type of disaster at bay.
If you’re unsure how to prevent frozen pipes in your home, there are a few factors to monitor that can increase the likelihood of freezing. Watch out for these warning signs and take steps to mitigate them.
Areas of the home with less insulation, like basements and attics, are more vulnerable to frozen water pipes. Often, pipes in these areas are also exposed, making them even more susceptible to damage. Water pipes located within the exterior walls of a house (like laundry rooms or garages) are also closer to cold temperatures outside and may freeze.
Consider adding insulation to these areas or investing in heat tape or pipe sleeves to cover exposed pipes. Metal pipes, usually found in older homes, are also more likely to freeze than PVC water pipes.
Another common factor contributing to frozen water pipes is the improper handling of exterior connections. Hose bibs, pool supply lines, and sprinklers can all harbor freezing water. As the seasons change, it’s important to drain these exterior lines, disconnect hoses, and leave outdoor valves open to allow any sitting water to escape.
Be sure to follow manufacturer recommendations and be aware of your city’s water guidelines. Some cities shut off exterior water on a scheduled date each year.
If your region experiences extreme or unusually cold temperatures, you should always ensure that your pipes are maintained. During cold snaps, consider wrapping basement or crawl space water pipes in insulating materials.
It’s also important to keep your home heated at all times during the winter, especially if you plan on traveling. Turning the thermostat down to save money at night or while you’re away, might seem like a good idea, but it will end up costing you more to repair the damage from frozen water pipes. Anything lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit puts your home in the danger zone.
In some cases, you can thaw frozen pipes before they burst and cause more significant damage. Slow or completely stopped water flow is a classic sign of frozen water pipes. Other signs of freezing include:
How to thaw frozen water pipes:
If you can locate the problem, you may be able to thaw frozen water pipes yourself by applying heat with a heating pad, space heater, or hair dryer. Always keep the faucet open while thawing to allow water to run and pressure to escape. If you’re unsuccessful, you should call a professional as soon as possible.
At Certified Disaster Services, our team of professionals is highly trained in home restoration. If your pipes freeze or burst, we can help repair them and fix any residual damage. Whether you need drywall and flooring replaced or a fresh coat of paint, you can trust us to restore everything back to normal after a freezing pipe disaster. Contact us today for a thorough estimate, and let us make your home feel like home again.
The first sign of a burst or frozen pipe is the lack of water flow in the house. You can also spot burst pipes by looking for water damage. Paint bubbles, water stains, and puddles can all indicate an active leak from a damaged pipe.
Yes, always shut off the main water supply to your home when dealing with freezing pipes. Locate the frozen water pipes, thaw them if possible, repair broken pipes, and then slowly turn the main water valve back on to see if the issue is resolved.
To dry the ceiling both above and below, remove wet insulation and any damaged drywall or plaster. Utilize fans and towels for thorough drying. Next, remove any loose portions of the ceiling and patch large holes with new drywall or plaster. Lastly, sand, prime, and paint. Water damaged ceiling repairs can be hazardous and challenging, but our professional, experienced team will restore it quickly and beautifully.
When temperatures consistently fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter, it’s a good idea to leave faucets on a slow drip to prevent pipes from freezing. Stagnant water is more likely to freeze than moving water.
Don’t wait to begin your home restoration, call us!
Certified Disaster Services, serving Ogden and Salt Lake City, is committed to restoring homes affected by water damage, including issues caused by frozen pipes. This is one of our most common services, as the causes are varied, and it often occurs alongside fire damage restoration.
We’re here to help homeowners recover quickly and effectively from the impact of frozen pipes and water-related damage.
We understand that waiting to restore your home can cause more damage. We respond at any hour, day or night, in Northern Utah or in the Salt Lake City, Utah area to quickly and efficiently remove the water and begin the restoration process.
Don’t wait to to begin your frozen pipe restoration!
