It may seem a rather mild winter here in South Jersey with little snow and ice to date. But according to Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil, and the folklore attached to him having seen his shadow, we aren’t out of the woods yet. February is only half over, and March often roars in like a lion.
As such, the likelihood of low and freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on pipes resulting in water flooding a home or office. We have already seen significant property damage from rain over the past few months and bursting pipes can happen as quickly as overnight.
To reduce the risk, here are a few to get you started:
Prevention Tips
- Disconnect, drain and store outdoor hoses.
- Drain water left in outdoor spigots.
- Allow exterior faucets to trickle avoiding the pressure that often leads to a burst.
- Keep thermostat setting consistent (but at no lower than 55° F) whether home, at work or on vacation
- Open cabinet doors when temperatures drop below freezing to allow warm air flow around kitchen and bathroom pipes.
There are also several products to help in prevention of frozen pipes, including water leak and freeze protectors, smart water valves, outdoor faucet covers and pipe heating cables to name a few.
In the event a pipe does burst, here are five (5) important and immediate “must do’s” to mitigate damage and harm:
- Stop the water flow
- Disconnect the electrical system
- Locate the affected pipe
- Clean up the spillage
- Contact an expert, including a plumber and electrician
For questions or if you see some tell-tale signs, any ServiceMaster of Cherry Hill team member is happy to address your concerns.
