When temperatures are below freezing, it can cause pipes to freeze and sometimes even burst open. The cold temperatures cause the water inside of the pipes to freeze and as the water freezes, it expands in size and puts pressure on the pipe from the inside. With enough pressure, the pipe will burst open and spread water throughout the property.
Because of this, property owners should take the time to not only keep themselves warm but their property, too. If you neglect to warm your property, then you risk having to spend thousands of dollars to repair/restore your property and the pipes from a pipe bursts.
Burst Pipes
If a pipe bursts, then whatever water inside will make its way out into the nearby area. Such an occurrence is an emergency that requires immediate help from a professional. Get in touch with RestorationMaster for the frozen pipe water damage restoration services we provide in Frederick, MD.
We employ professional technicians who are experienced in addressing water damage caused by pipe bursts. Following your call for help, we’ll arrive promptly to your property to extract the water from the pipe burst. Then, our technicians will restore or replace the damaged structural materials.
Finding Frozen Pipes
Locating a frozen pipe can be tough to do. This is because they are often in a hidden area like behind a wall or in your attic.
When you discover that a pipe has burst, act quickly by turning the main water off and calling us for help. With advanced equipped, our professionals are capable of extracting standing water and removing excess moisture from building materials and the air in an efficient and effective manner.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
If you take the time to prepare your pipes for cold temperatures, then you give them a better chance at not freezing. You can prevent frozen pipes by following these steps:
- Turn on all faucets to allow a low drip, using cold and hot water valves. This ensures there’s running water travelling through the pipes which makes it tougher for them to freeze.
- Get insulation or electrical tape to insulate the water pipes located in colder areas.
- When temperatures are freezing outside, considering setting up a heater in your attic, basement, and/or crawlspace to help combat the cold.
- Keep cabinets beneath sinks open to ensure their pipes are circulated by warm air.
- Prevent water from flowing to exterior pipes by turning off the main water exterior valve.
What to Do When Finding Frozen Pipes
If water doesn’t come out of your faucets when you turn them on, then take a look at the pipes, and check whether they’re frozen. If the pipes have frozen, then you need to thaw them promptly. Otherwise, it may result in a burst and a flood. Use the following steps to thaw your frozen pipes:
- Use a space heater adjacent to the wall behind the pipe. You can also use an infrared lamp.
- Use a heat lamp or blow dryer to thaw the pipe after removing the drywall. When doing this, you can turn the water on to help. It will increase the pipe’s water pressure, pushing the ice out.
- Increase your home’s temperature to help thaw out the frozen pipe.
While Maryland isn’t known for freezing temperatures, they do happen on occasion, so it’s important that you and your home are prepared for it. If not, your pipes can freeze and then burst, spreading water and causing property damage.
Contact Us
If a pipe bursts and you need professional water damage restoration services, call RestorationMaster at (301) 381-2304.