Homeowner Tips: Unfreezing Pipes This Winter
As a homeowner, you will naturally want to protect your investment any way you can. From preventive maintenance to occasional repairs, there are many ways by which you can preserve the value of your home and ensure its optimum condition.
Home insurance is also a must, as it covers damage and losses that could occur from accidents, criminal acts, and natural disasters. And if your home costs $750,000 to a million dollars or more, you will probably want to obtain high-value home insurance.
But home insurance‒whether standard or high-value, covers you only for losses or damages that have already occurred. Furthermore, your coverage may be limited if the insurer determines that you have been negligent in preventing damage from occurring in the first place.
Take the case of frozen pipes. This is a common concern among many homeowners in the winter when the cold temperature causes water to freeze. As the water molecules turn to ice, they will expand and exert considerable pressure on the pipes. Any cracked or weakened sections will allow the ice to push through, causing…you guessed it: burst pipes.
As helpful as insurance is, they won’t prevent burst pipes from occurring. This is why it is necessary to perform preventive maintenance to ensure that your pipes don’t burst in the first place. And if you can show that you have made an effort to prevent plumbing and water systems problems, your insurer will be more likely to cover your claim fully if disaster strikes.
How to know if one or more pipes are frozen
Frozen pipes are pretty easy to detect. They will either be coated with a layer of frost or bulge slightly. But keep in mind that not all water lines used by your plumbing system will be out in the open. That being the case, you may have frozen pipes that you can’t detect visually.
Other signs include sluggish water flow or toilet tanks that don’t refill after flushing. Over time, you should instinctively know if one or more pipes are frozen.
Thawing out frozen pipes
If your pipes aren’t frozen completely, you might be able to clear out the ice with a few simple home remedies. But before you tackle the problem, it’s a good idea to turn off the water supply in the affected area. If you can’t turn off the water in that particular section, you will have to shut off the supply to the entire house.
Why do you have to turn off the water? In some cases, the ice in the pipes may have expanded enough to crack or tear the material. If you thaw them out with the water still running, you may find entire sections leaking, which will cause an entirely new set of problems. You can prevent flooding by thawing your pipes with the water turned off.
As for the actual thawing, you can use any moderate source of heat you have around the house, including space heaters, heat lamps, or hair dryers. You could also wrap the affected section with thermostatic tape, which costs about $50 at most home supply shops.
How to deal with burst pipes
If you are somehow unable to thaw out your pipes or aren’t even aware of a problem, having your pipes burst is a real possibility. In this worst-case scenario, your first step should be to turn off the water at the mains. This should stop the flow of water and hopefully prevent the problem from worsening.
At this point, you should probably call a plumber to fix the problem. But you shouldn’t just sit around waiting for help to arrive. Quick action will reduce the damage that the water will cause and make it easier for you to restore your home to its former condition.
Mop up as much of the standing water as you can manage with rags, mops, towels, or anything absorbent. You could also use a wet/dry vacuum to suck up excess water. Running a dehumidifier will hasten the drying process and prevent mold and mildew from forming.
In some cases, water pipes will burst despite your best efforts to prevent the problem. You will have to address the situation quickly to reduce the damage and avoid a costly repair bill when it does happen.
The ideal solution would be to regularly inspect your plumbing and water systems for potential issues and repair any leaks, cracks, or weak spots. This is still the best way to ensure that burst pipes don’t get the better of you this coming winter.
About Daniels Insurance, Inc.
At Daniels Insurance, Inc., we have a unique understanding of the risks that businesses like yours face on a regular basis. With the backing of our comprehensive coverages and our dedication to customer service and quick claims resolution, your business will be fully protected. For more information, contact us today at (855) 565-7616.