Cold temperatures are making an impact on many New Jersey property owners, SERVPRO has property damage mitigation and restoration services to help

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO comes ready with all the necessary equipment to get your winter property damage recovery done quickly because we want to prevent more damage.

Severe winter weather property damage including pipe bursts and frozen water leaks: a winter water damage emergency

Frigid winter temperatures are common here in the Northeast, over the next several weeks Long Island and the surrounding areas will likely have variable freezing temperatures. Frozen water damage events and pipe breaks are one of the most common causes of property damage in our area. These lower temperatures cause a new set of seasonal property disasters including frozen pipes, ice dams and other frozen water damage concerns that can cost property owners thousands. Every winter our SERVPRO of East Windsor professionals help countless home and business owners in Mercer County, with the restoration, mitigation, cleaning and repair of their residential and commercial property following a frozen water property disaster.

Why is a Frozen Pipe a Concern?

• When water begins to freeze, it expands. This can cause both plastic and metal pipes to burst, possibly leading to significant water damage to your home or business.
• Since water expands when it freezes, it puts unwanted pressure on pipes.
• As water freezes, the force exerted from the expansion can cause a pipe to burst, regardless of the strength of the material.
• You may not know you have a burst pipe as the water has turned to ice. Once the temperature starts to warm and thawing begins, leaking and flooding can occur.

What pipes are of most concern?

• Pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines.
• Water supply pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets.
• Pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation.

FROZEN PIPE WATER DAMAGE TREATMENT AND RESTORATION

The key to avoiding costly secondary damage is to handle every water problem as a real threat to your property with proper mitigation. Our SERVPRO of East Windsor team has the equipment, training and experience to find and dry unseen water before secondary damages occur. We begin removing the standing water from your property with extraction methods, and rapidly dry your structure and contents with dehumidifiers that lower the indoor humidity levels, so your building dries out quickly. When time matters, technology and equipment must be counted on to perform. SERVPRO professionals will answer your call with rapid action and a full arsenal of drying equipment.

FROZEN PIPE PREVENTION
Short- and Long-term solutions for low temperature plumbing problems include:

• Locate and seal cracks and openings in the walls, attic, basement, or crawlspace.
• Weather strip and caulk around crawlspace doors and basement windows.
• Make sure your home is properly insulated. Pay special attention to areas where pipes are located.
• Insulate unprotected pipes and don't leave gaps. Pipe sleeves simplify the process. Keep the pieces tight against each other and seal the slits and joints with duct tape.
• Install storm windows over basement windows or replace the old windows with energy-efficient alternatives.
• Find your main water shutoff so you can turn off the water quickly if needed. Locations vary — look in the crawlspace or basement where the water supply enters the house, inside a water meter box directly outside the house or near the water heater.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air flow around the supply lines. Move any cleaners or other chemicals out of the reach of children.
• Keep your thermostat at the daytime setting during the night. If you'll be away for several days during subfreezing weather, keep it set above 55° F.

What Do You Do if You Have a Frozen Pipe?

• If you have a leak or flood, turn the water off immediately to prevent further water damage and call a licensed plumber to make repairs. 
• Contact SERVPRO to reverse any primary and secondary water damage.

HOW SERVPRO CAN HELP RESTORE YOUR FLOOD AND WATER DAMAGE FOLLOWING A PIPE BURST.

When winter temperatures drop below freezing, the water flowing freely in pipes throughout your home or business have the potential to freeze. When your pipes burst from freezing water, getting the water out fast is our highest priority. Our SERVPRO of East Windsor team comes ready with all the necessary equipment to get it done quickly because we want to prevent it from causing further damage to your property. We have years of experience dealing with New Jersey residential and commercial water damage, and we know what it takes to restore your property, "Like it never even happened."