Winter Storm Tips

12/30/2019 (Permalink)

Although it doesn’t happen often in Texas, we do still have days when the temperature falls below 32 degrees F. When freezing temperatures hit water in pipes, it can freeze, although you might not know it has happened until the pipe has thawed out. We all know that water expands as it freezes and becomes ice. If water has frozen in a pipe, the pipe can rupture due to this expansion of water into ice. As the ice in the pipe begins to melt, the water will escape through the ruptured parts of the pipe, resulting in water damage to your home or office.  

Here are some helpful tips for preventing frozen water pipes:

• Keep your house at a warm, consistent temperature both day and night.
• When you know temperatures will be dropping below freezing, allow water to run in all the sinks at a slow, constant drip. It only needs to trickle, and that tiny amount of water will keep the water moving through the pipes and prevent them from freezing.
• Open up the cabinet doors in the bathrooms and kitchen. This will allow the heat from the home to circulate and warm up the pipes.
• Keep the garage door closed to keep garage pipes from freezing.
• If you leave your home for an extended period of time, do not set your thermostat lower than 55 degrees.
• If you do end up with frozen pipes that haven’t ruptured, a hand-held hair dryer or heat lamp can thaw them.

If you do have water damage as the result of a frozen water pipe, call SERVPRO of  Friendswood/Pearland, Stafford, Missouri City North and Fresno at 281-412-6211 for your water restoration needs.