It is very important to take preventive measures against frozen pipes which can cause costly water damage to your home or business. Pipes commonly at risk of freezing are those in unheated areas, such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages or kitchen cabinets. As water freezes, it expands and the pressure can cause the pipe to crack or burst. In addition to the damage to your plumbing system, you will also be faced with a flood in your home or business. If not properly remediated, water damage can also cause mold infestation which is a health hazard.
Below are some tips to help keep pipes from freezing in the cold winter months:
A good way to prevent pipes from freezing is by not lowering your thermostat at night; keep the temperature the same day and night in extremely cold weather. If there is a water supply line in your garage, always keep the doors closed. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing. When weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet to prevent freezing, especially if the pipe is exposed.
If you suspect a frozen pipe, keep the faucet open. Once you locate the frozen pipe, apply heat by using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe or a hair dryer. Always make sure that that the heating pad or hair dryer does not come in contact with water. Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. As the pipe is treated and the water begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Always check all faucets in your home to make sure the water is running, because if it is not, you might have additional frozen pipes. If one freezes, others might also freeze.
If you are traveling during the winter months for an extended period of time, one of the first things to do is make sure your heat is set to 55 degrees. Always have a neighbor check on your house to make sure the furnace is working and the heat remains at 55 degrees because if it goes below freezing, you run the risk of a broken pipe.
If you do experience a broken pipe, you must act quickly to prevent further water damage to your home or business. The first thing you must do is shut off the water immediately. Know where the water shut-off valve is located and make sure all members of the household are aware of its location and how to shut it off.
If you experience water damage from a burst pipe, contact a local reputable water damage repair company right away. They can advise you on the proper steps to take to clean up and restore your home or business. Taking care of the problem right away can prevent the need for mold remediation later.
Water Leak Alarm: Preventing Water Damage
A drip here and there are the first signs of a possible water damage; this is something that we just dry off with a paper towel. However, leaks under the kitchen sink and water stains on the ceiling are warning signs that real water problems like a rotten floorboard and a weakened roof are happening. As you know, a burst pipe can damage your home and flooding can lead to mold and mildew problems. So, why take a chance? You need to know where these water problems start and how to prevent them.
Possible Culprits
The Kitchen - Dishwashers, Refrigerators, and the sink are the most vulnerable areas where possible water damage could happen. You need to periodically check these areas for discolorations, softening, and wet spots because these signs could be telling you that something needs to be fixed.
The Bathroom - The Bathroom is definitely a place where a lot of water activities take place. You need to check the shower and tub for cracked or deteriorated caulk and leaks from sink water pipes. Also, check the internal rubber and plastic parts of your toilets because chlorine cleaners tend to corrode plastic and rubber.
Laundry, Basement, and Utility Room - Watch out for rust in the tank and wet spots on the floor of your water heaters as this could be a sign of a water problem. This also goes true with your washing machine. Simply check the hoses for possible cracking, bulging, and fraying.
Stopping Leaks
When you suspect a leak, the first step is to turn off your home's water valve. For easy to reach and small leaks, you can easily fix it with commercial water sealants. However, if you are unsure of what to do and wish to attain a permanent solution, don't hesitate to call your plumber.
Water Leak Alarm
Hiring plumbers and changing pipes and hoses could really be expensive as well as time wasting. Thus, the best way to deal with water leak problems is by fixing it as soon as it occurs. Since you can't go checking all your pipes one by one every day, the best alternative is to install leak alarm systems. You can hire someone to install it for you or you can actually do it yourself. There are a lot of easy to install water leak alarms sold in the market today. The price of a leak alarm depends on its durability, reliability, as well as its add-on features. There are also some state-of-the-art water leak alarms like the Nowa Water Leak Alarm System that comes with a freeze sensor that turns off your main water valve as soon as it detects that your home temperature goes below 5 degrees.
A water leak alarm could range from less than a hundred to a couple of hundred bucks but it's worth every penny. Just think of the thousands of dollars you can save from what serious water damage can cause.