Beware of Frozen Pipes This Winter

1/24/2019 (Permalink)

Prevention is Key to Preventing a Pipe From Freezing

Winter is here, and in the Chicagoland area that means cold weather and other problems for you home.  One of the main problems during this cold season is frozen pipes. It is easier to prevent pipes from freezing rather than cleaning up after they have frozen.  SERVPRO of Oak Park-River Forest will always be there to clean up the damage from a broken pipe, but lets stop it before it gets there.

Why Are Frozen Pipes A Problem?

Frozen pipes can be a problem because they block water flow to the affected outlets which poses a problem in itself.  But worse than that, when water freezes, it expands which means that a frozen pipe can burst sending ice and water to surrounding surfaces like drywall.  Fixing and cleaning up after burst pipe can be very expensive.

Preventing A Pipe From Freezing

Their a steps to preventing pipes from freezing:

*Shut off outdoor outlets such as sprinklers and open the valve to drain out the water.

*Check your home for pipes that  may run through an outside wall and insulate those pipes.

*Insulate parts of the home that are cold like the basement.

*Call a plumber that can help spot vulnerable pipes and offer alternative solutions.