Frozen Pipes Water Damage Cleanup Services in Plano, TX
Serving the Plano, TX area since 1978.
If you have seen the kind of damage frozen pipes can cause to homes and buildings, it can seem nerve-wracking to find one in your home. Despite the warmer climate of Texas, freezing temperatures are not uncommon in the Plano, TX area. If these pipes freeze or burst, you should contact a disaster restoration company as soon as possible.
But ServiceMaster of North Texas is available 24/7 in the Plano, TX area to provide emergency water damage restoration services after frozen and burst pipes have damaged the homes or buildings. Our technicians understand the stress involved in these situations, which is why we respond immediately during these emergencies to begin the restoration process.
Frozen Sprinklers and Pipes
Some areas of the home can make it through extremely cold temperatures because they are heated. But others located in the basement, attic, crawlspaces, and exterior face much higher chances of freezing.
When pipes freeze, the water inside them is already frozen and pushing on the inside. Eventually, enough pressure can create an opening, causing water to shoot everywhere. If not noticed right away, hundreds of gallons can spill behind the walls and leak through several building materials.
As soon as you notice the disaster, shut off the water supply line right away to cut off the source. Then call ServiceMaster of North Texas and we will arrive within 2 hours to clean up the mess. Each of our technicians is trained in water damage restoration, using effective equipment and techniques to extract the water and dry out the affected materials.
We will also perform immediate mold remediation to prevent mold growth as it will develop within 48 hours of the water damage if not addressed right away.
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.
Thawing Frozen Pipes
If you see a frozen pipe within your home, don’t panic. Just be sure to take the necessary steps to thaw it out as soon as possible. If you are easily able to access the pipe, meaning that it’s not hidden behind a wall, set up a heat lamp next to it. This should safely warm it up and melt the ice from within.
Also be sure to turn on the faucet that’s connected to the frozen pipe. The goal is to push out the ice particles from the faucet. But never use a flame torch on the pipe because it is a fire hazard.
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.