How To Protect Your Pipes And Prevent Flood Damage To Your Clover Home

6/13/2017 (Permalink)

Helping Clover residents in flooding or water damage emergencies.

South Carolina residents were reminded of the power of cold weather when winter storm Helena hit in winter 2017, bringing snow and ice and unfortunately leading to casualties. The weather is warm at this time of year, but it is never too early to start planning winterization to prevent a burst pipe when the cold weather hits again.
 
Burst pipes occur when the water in the pipe freezes. Water expands as it freezes and this pressure causes the pipe to break. The result for your Clover home is often significant flood damage. No homeowner wants to discover a wet floor or ceiling due to a burst pipe, and the problem is often preventable. The water damage caused inside wall cavities often effectively ruins both walls. That is why SERVPRO recommends the following actions to protect your pipes.
 
Insulate Your Pipes
Good quality lagging insulates your pipes and helps prevent them from bursting. Lagging is of particular importance for pipes that are below ground or located in areas where it gets cold enough for them to freeze.
 
Insulate Your Water Heater
Even homeowners who remember to insulate their pipes sometimes forget about the water heater. However, a frozen cold water tank is a flood damage risk, so be sure you get it insulated too. Insulating your tank protects it and reduces the chance of water leaks or broken pipes. This also cuts down on your utility bill.
 
Keep The Heating On
Keep your heating at an even 76 degrees during a cold snap. Leaving your heating on provides just enough background heat to keep water flowing and stop your pipes from freezing. When the weather is dreadful the extra cost of background heating is worth paying – it is less than the cost of dealing with extensive flood damage to your home.
 
Know Where Your Main Shut-Off Valve Is
In the unfortunate event of a broken pipe, shutting off your stopcock prevents more water damage until SERVPRO arrives to  possibly fix the plumbing. Also, be aware of the location of the main shut-off valve, usually on the exterior perimeter of the property.
 
When you see signs of a leak, it is important to put in a call to SERVPRO at once. Swift action means flood damage is mitigated faster and the harm to your home is minimized.
 
Our IICRC-certified technicians come equipped with all the professional equipment necessary to handle any burst pipe leak, large or small. We siphon water from the affected area, before bringing in dehumidifiers, air movers, and box fans to dry out your house. Our teams also use moisture detection equipment such as penetrating moisture probes, moisture meters and even thermal imaging technology so we can check that the affected area is thoroughly dried out. This documentation assists with your insurance claim.