Cold Weather = Frozen Pipes - Are you Prepared?

1/25/2019 (Permalink)

Living in the South doesn’t always mean warmer weather and Old Man Winter is planning a visit to the Carolinas this weekend - bringing artic air that can be brutal to your water pipes.   SERVPRO of Newberry and Laurens Counties want you to be prepared!  The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to protect vulnerable pipes with inexpensive, easy-to-install insulation. There are also last-minute preventative measures you can use in a pinch, and if your pipes should freeze, there are safe ways to thaw them before permanent damage occurs. Use these tips to avoid this messy and costly household disaster.

Insulating Your Pipes

It only takes a small amount of time and money to insulate the most exposed sections of your home’s plumbing system. Insulating foam sheaths are available at most hardware stores and they easily attach to pipes with adhesive strips or pipe clamps.  Locating your main water line from the point is emerges from the ground to the point where it enters the heated area of your home should be insulated. Locate your main water shut-off valve and make sure it opens and closes easily. In the event of a broken pipe due to freezing the first thing you’ll want to do is close this valve.  Insulate any pipes that reach outside the heated environment of your home.

Prevent Frozen Pipes

If you have uninsulated pipes implement these tricks to prevent a disaster.  Run a continuous trickle of water from the water fixture farthest from the water main. If your fixture has separate handles for hot and cold slightly open both valves.  Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Keep your thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and night.

 Be Prepared

Using these simple tools can prevent a water disaster in your home but know if this should happen SERVPRO of Newberry and Laurens Counties are here to help! Like it never even happened!