SERVPRO water extraction, cleaning and restoration services make a huge difference after any New Jersey frozen water damage loss

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

Freezing temperatures can be incredibly dangerous to your home or business, frozen water, snow, and ice can cause significant property damage.

Our SERVPRO professionals provide expert restoration and mitigation services after winter temperatures cause frozen water damage to your Mercer County residential or commercial property.

Winter temperatures can be brutal in the Northeast, whipping winds and extended periods of freezing are incredibly damaging to your property, as frozen water, snow and ice can all lead to significant property damage disasters. On average each year a quarter of a million homeowners will experience the destructive power of frozen water problems including, frozen pipe bursts, ice dams and other leaking water damage occurrences. 

DO ICE DAMS ALWAYS CAUSE DAMAGE? When icicles start decorating the eaves, you know conditions are right for ice dams to happen. Ice dams on the roof don’t always cause damage. If weather conditions improve, they eventually melt and allow water to run off the roof. However, an extended cold spell usually increases ice dam size and weight. The additional buildup can cause damaged eaves, gutter problems and leaky roofs.

When snow on the roof melts, the runoff collects around eaves and freezes as it drips to the ground. The initial results are icicles along the roof edge. The process cycles through thawing and freezing and forms solid dams of ice. These areas eventually build up and prevent water from running off the roof.

During a melt cycle, water accumulates behind the ice dam. It backs up and pools under flashing and shingles, and that causes the roof to leak. Ice dams also block gutters from doing their job, and that can result in even more water backups on the roof.

Fast Response to Water Removal Minimizes Damages

Our crews are available 24/7 to aid our local New Jersey neighbors with both commercial and residential flooding and water damage emergencies. A quick response and expert action to your water intrusion can significantly reduce the overall damage to your home or business. Our property damage restoration crew will tailor a specific plan using our advanced equipment capacities to quickly overcome any property damage situation. SERVPRO trucks and teams are available to deploy submersible pumps, water extractors, air movers, and dehumidifiers, quickly controlling the spread of water and moisture damages.

A Professional Inspection can determine the many factors that specify the exact process for your property damage recovery: level of water, type of contamination, and amount of exposure all play a vital role in the balance between restore and replace.

Our SERVPRO staff is highly trained and experienced in the cleanup and restoration of your frozen water property damage from frigid Northeast temperatures. Our team can respond quickly and help you assess your damage and find a restoration solution that you can trust.

WINTER WATER PROPERTY DAMAGE

• ICE DAMS
  Ice dams occur after a snowfall and several days of freezing temperatures, common weather conditions in the Northeast during winter. Warm air inside your home leaks into the attic and warms the underside of the roof causing snow and ice to melt. The melted water refreezes on the cold overhang and can form icicles and an ice dam on the roof and gutters. This process can cause damage to the roof which can cause water to leak into the home causing water damage to the ceiling, walls, insulation and other areas.
  
  
• LEAKING BASEMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS
  Basement and ground floor apartment flooding are a common occurrence for many homeowners throughout Long Island, the impact of heavy snow, ice and rain can overflow sewer drains and pavement often leading to water leaks, flooding and other types of lower lever water damage. Ground level flooding can lead to significant structural damage, destroy furnishings and other belongings and commonly lead to elevated mold and humidity issues.
  
  
• FROZEN WATER PIPES
  When Northeast temperatures drop to at or below freezing, the water flowing in your plumbing has the potential to freeze. Water expands when it freezes, the expansion of the frozen water can cause a rupture, causing catastrophic flood damage. It’s important to note that the break often occurs between the frozen point and the faucet, as the ice blocks the pipe and the water pressure increases leading to stress on the pipe. Pipes that run through the exterior walls are particularly at risk, but those that run through low- or uninsulated attics and crawl spaces can also freeze.

Although these frozen water damage situations are very common, sometimes the damage could have largely been prevented by taking a few preventative steps ahead of time. These are a few tips you can take to try and avoid turning the coming frigid days and nights into inconvenient and expensive property disasters.

HELP PREVENT WINTER WEATHER & FREEZING WATER ISSUES WITH THESE TIPS

• Exposed pipes are the most susceptible to freezing, so insulate pipes in your home's crawl spaces and attic.
• Heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes and prevent ice dams.
• Seal air leaks in your attic, basement and exterior walls, look for air leaks around electrical wiring, vents, and pipes, and use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out.
• To avoid ice dam concerns, add roof and soffit vents to regulate the air temperature close to the underside of the roof.
• Sump pumps and sub-floor drainage systems are typically used to avoid the continued damage associated with basements and other foundation issues.
• A trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing.
• Let warm water drip overnight, from a faucet on an outside wall.
• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

Mercer County weather can be unpredictable even when winter temperatures aren’t extremely cold; property water damages happen to home and business owners often. When water begins spilling across the floor or filling the basement, it is usually from a failed water heater shut-off valve or a split line on a washing machine. Many factors contribute to the length and cost of your property damage cleanup and restoration project, including the amount and type of water involved, length of time before service and the total area impacted. Our qualified and experienced staff can help answer your disaster restoration questions and provide a step-by-step plan for a full recovery of your flooded commercial or residential property. Our crews explain the process of water extraction, drying and restoration. Our New Jersey SERVPRO team has a unique rebuild option with our dedicated construction crew, to seamlessly move from restoration to reconstruction, helping you recover more quickly. Our specialized equipment and highly trained staff have the scope of services to handle your property restoration needs from start to finish. We understand you may not have all the answers, calling our team connects you to professionals that can provide the answers to your restoration concerns and tailor a solution to repair your home or business, “Like it never even happened.”