Preventing Frozen Pipes

If you have ever experienced the damage from frozen pipes before, you know that the resulting effects are disastrous. But the best way is to avoid it altogether of course. Here are some steps you can take that will significantly reduce your chances of it happening.

• Turn on the hot and cold-water valves to increase the pressure within the affected pipes. Increased water pressure can help to prevent ice particles from forming.
• Cover all pipes, especially exterior pipes with electrical tape or insulation.
• Run a space heater near the areas that are not within the heated parts of the home.
• Turn off the exterior water supply line and drain all hoses and sprinkler lines.
• Open cabinets that have pipes on the inside to allow warm air to circulate around the pipe.

While these steps will significantly reduce your chances of frozen pipes from occurring, they are not guaranteed. Ensure to regularly inspect all pipes, especially during extremely cold weather.

If the pipe is hidden behind a wall, you can take these steps:

• Place an infrared lamp next to the wall with the frozen pipe on the other side. The heat should travel through the structure and heat up the pipe on the other side.
• Turn up the temperature on the property.
• Remove the wall or ceiling covering the pipe.

If you are fortunate to spot a frozen pipe before it bursts, you will have saved yourself from a large water loss. However, other property owners may not be so lucky, due to the fact that the pipe was hidden or it wasn’t noticed right away. In these situations, call us right away.

During these emergencies, don’t hesitate to contact ServiceMaster of North Texas for immediate water damage restoration from frozen pipes in the Plano, TX area. We are available 24/7 at (972) 840-8888 and also work with insurance companies.