Water Damage from Frozen Pipes in Chicago

Restoring homes from water damage caused by frozen and burst pipes

We understand when you have home damage caused by frozen or burst pipes getting help fast is crucial. We respond quickly and will be at your home in 2-4 hours to begin repairing the damage. While we see water damage caused by everything from frozen pipes and ice dams to sewer backups and flooding every day, we recognize that this may be the first time you have experienced water damage in your home. We take time to clearly explain the restoration process and answer any questions you may have. While repairing your home is important, making sure you are treated with consideration and respect throughout the entire process is just as important to us.

We have over 40 years of experience and restore more homes and businesses each year than any other single restoration company. All of our technicians are certified by the IICRC, the regulatory body for water damage restoration. In addition, we are licensed, bonded and insured so you can rest easy knowing you are in highly trained and capable hands.

We also work with all major insurance carriers and can help you navigate the claims process. We are also a preferred provider for many of the top insurance carriers. From using the latest technology to scheduling around your busy life, every aspect of our water damage restoration and repair process has been developed to minimize disruption and get your life back to normal as quickly as possible.

Just one frozen pipe can do serious damage to your Chicago home. In addition, frozen pipes aren’t always immediately identified as the cause. But don’t worry – this isn’t unusual for the experts at ServiceMaster DSI. We’ve been helping homeowners repair water damage for over 40 years, so we know how to locate damage even if it’s hidden, and we know how to fix it. No matter what you’re dealing with – standing water, structural damage to walls, collapsed ceilings – we’re ready work with you to create the best plan for restoring your home.

Once you contact us, our restoration experts in Chicago will immediately spring into action and be on site in just 2 to 4 hours. Using professional equipment, they’ll locate the source of the damage. They do more than just extract water: they’ll install air movers and dehumidifiers that speed up the drying process and ensure no unseen moisture continues damaging your home. From start to finish, your satisfaction is one of our top priorities. We’re in the business of bringing your home back to its original condition, and we won’t leave until you’re satisfied with the results.

5 Tips to Thaw Frozen Pipes During an Arctic Blast So They Do Not Damage Your Property

An arctic blast is set to invade the central United States today. During these cold temperatures, water pipes in your home or business could freeze. If you know your pipes are frozen, you need to thaw them out quickly or the pipes could burst and cause extensive water damage to your property. Below are five tips on how to thaw out frozen water pipes.

1. Turn Up the Heat
   One way to unfreeze water pipes is to turn up the heat in your home or business. Make sure to open all doors and cabinets and set up fans to blow heat into the area with the frozen pipes. If you raise the temperature high enough in the room, the frozen pipe could thaw out.

2. Thaw Pipes with Blow Dryer or Hot Towels
   First, leave faucets slightly open so the water can trickle out once thawed. Then start by warming the pipe from the tip of the faucet first with the blow dryer or hot towels moving toward coldest part of the pipe. Thawing out the tip first gives the water somewhere to drain. Apply this heat until the water pressure is completely restored.

3. Thaw with Space Heater or Heat Lamp
   Plug your space heater or heat lamp into an electrical outlet. Make sure the electrical outlet cannot get wet from your pipes if they burst. Then place the heater about a foot away from the faucet. Every few minutes check on the pipe to see if it is unfrozen. Once that portion has thawed, move the heater to the new section of the frozen pipe.

4. Use Electric Heat Tape
   Another way to thaw pipes is to buy and use electric heat tape on the frozen pipes. Place the electric tape on the affected pipe and wait for it to thaw out slowly.

5. Send Salt Water Down the Drain
   If you know that your drain is frozen, you can use cooking salt to try to unfreeze your pipes. First, boil hot water from a working faucet. Then add a large amount of salt to the water. The more salt the better. Pour salt water down the drain. Add more every few hours and keep checking.

You will know your pipe is unfrozen once the water starts trickling out of the faucet or down the drain. After you have running water, let the water run for a while to completely clear the pipe. Then turn off the faucet and check the pipe for water leaks.

What's the Minimum Temperature to Keep Pipes from Freezing?

Most plumbers will recommend keeping your house at or above 55 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent freezing. However, most pipes will begin to freeze in a home if the outside temperature is at 20 degrees Fahrenheit or less (for more than 6 hours) regardless of the indoor temperature.

10 Tips for How to Stop Pipes from Freezing

When a polar vortex sweeps through the central United States, temperatures can dive deep below zero across the upper Midwest including Chicago. An arctic blast is often accompanied by strong winds with wind chills that can be in the 30s, 40s, and 50s below zero. This kind of weather can wreak havoc on your plumbing.

Frozen pipes are a major water damage risk during this arctic blast. Pipes can freeze at your property when temperatures drop rapidly or stay below the freezing point (32° Fahrenheit/ 0° Celsius) for an extended period. Once a pipe freezes and has expanded, the pipe can break and cause your home or business to flood. To prevent this type of disaster from occurring at your place, follow these top 10 frozen pipe prevention tips from ServiceMaster DSI:

1. Letting a water faucet drip can prevent water damage from frozen pipes: During cold weather, release pressure in the water system by allowing water drip from both hot and cold lines. If the pipes do freeze, dripping water will reduce the likelihood of a rupture.
2. Winterize outside faucets to prevent freezing and burst pipes: ServiceMaster DSI sees frequent water damage to the inside of homes because of outside faucets. Always disconnect the garden hose from the outside faucet then determine if your faucet is frost-free. If your outdoor faucet is not frost-free, your outside faucet water line needs to be turned off and drained out.
3. Make sure all pipes are insulated: Pipes on outer walls, crawl spaces, attics, or any pipe that is around a hole to the outside air are most vulnerable to freezing. Purchase foam tape and pipe insulation from any hardware store and install around these susceptible pipes to prevent them from freezing.
4. Turn up the thermostat: A good rule of thumb is to find the coldest temperature in your house where pipes are located and make sure your temperature is at least 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above.
5. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors under sinks (especially if these pipes are located on outside walls): Keeping these doors opened will allow warmer room air to circulate these uninsulated pipes and prevent them from freezing.
6. Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage: Keeping the garage door closed and the temperature warmer than 32 degrees Fahrenheit, will help insulate your home and prevent pipes from freezing.
7. Seal leaking windows, doors, and any other areas that have cold leaking issues: When temperatures are cold during a polar vortex, windows that have gusts of wind come through and hit pipes can cause them to freeze. Caulk or inject foam sealant around windows that leak air. To prevent pipes from freezing and save you money on energy costs.
8. Monitor water pressure: Keep an eye out for inconsistent water pressure. Irregular water pressure could be a sign of severe plumbing problems such as plumbing blockages and could mean your pipes are more at risk to freeze. If you notice different water pressures, identify and fix the problem to prevent frozen pipes.
9. Know where your main water valve shut-off is located: If a pipe breaks, turn the water shut-off valve off immediately to prevent more water damage. Wasting time to find the shut-off after a loss has occurred could cost you hundreds of dollars.
10. Always have emergency contact numbers on-hand: Always have your insurance agent, a licensed plumber and ServiceMaster DSI’s phone number, 888-413-3130, accessible in case you have an emergency.

Give us a call today at (773) 729-1757 for water cleanup or help with frozen pipes in Chicago.