Frozen pipes are a problem and how to prevent them

1/21/2019 (Permalink)

The recent cold artic snap can wreak havoc on your homes plumbing. The severe arctic dip in temperature in White Plains, New Rochelle, Rye and surrounding Westchester County puts your water pipes at risk. They can burst from freezing if they are not properly maintained.

The problem of frozen pipes

The reason pipe freezing is a problem is because water expands when frozen. The expanding water exerts a large amount of pressure on your pipes causing them to burst. Whether the pipes are metal or plastic the expansion of frozen water will affect them.

Pipes that are more likely to freeze are:

• exposed to severe cold such as water sprinkler lines, swimming pool supply lines and outside hose bibs.
• along exterior walls and have no insulation, even with a little insulation these pipes are still vulnerable to freezing.
• supply lines located in unheated areas such as garages ,attics , crawl spaces , basements and kitchen cabinets.

Preventing your pipes from freezing

There are some steps you can take to prevent freezing during the warmer months of the year.

• Drain water from the sprinkler system and winterize your swimming pool. Follow manufacturer`s and installers instructions on this process.
• Check insulation in vulnerable unheated areas and add insulation if there is none. This will help maintain a higher temperature in those areas.
• Disconnect ,drain and store outside hoses. After removing the outside hose leave the faucet open and close the interior water line supplying the outside connection.

In case a pipe breaks

With these precautions being taken a burst pipe can still occur if that happens here are some simple tips to limit the damage.

• Make sure no electrical appliances are submerged or saturated before entering the affected area. If electronics or electrical outlets are submerged do not enter the affected area and call a certified electrician.
• If you have safe access to the electric panel turn off the power to that area.
• Find the main valve supplying that line and turn it off.
• If safely accessible, inspect to see where the break occurred.
• notify a reputable plumber 
• Call us at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle to handle the water mitigation and drying.