FROZEN PIPES FROM FREEZING TEMPS & SNOWSTORM ~ Eastchester NY 10709

Freezing temps & snowstorms in January may cause frozen pipes & water damages in Easchester NY 10709

We had more than 20 frozen pipe emergency calls from home and business owners at this time last year.  As a local, family-owned fire and water damage cleanup firm, we see lots of frozen pipe water damages that can be devastating to a home, business and a property owners' belongings. 

From rising and falling temps in the next week, as low as 6 degrees -- YEESH! -- to ice dam problems, frozen pipe damages are a common flooding issue in Westchester County buildings.

Many homes and businesses are housed in antique buildings in our region and in Weschester County.  So, old pipes that are uninsulated and near or against exterior walls are more likely to freeze. 

However, even with the insulation shown here, it’s potentially a problem when the cold weather snaps and warms up that some of our clients have water damage issues.

Sorry to use the “f” word for frozen pipes again, but snow and freezing temperatures are here as 2014 dawns with winter storms.  If the water flowing through an older pipe grows too cold and it's uninsulated, the fluid freezes and the pipes can expand and could "fail." 

Have your wrench handy or ask your honey, hubby or fav plumber come and check out your pipe insulation...

...the coldest weather is yet to come through January and February.

Here is what you can do to prepare:

The best way to keep your pipes from freezing this year is to make sure you’re prepared for freezing temperatures. You can do this by:

• Insulate your pipes -  Exposed pipes, like those located in crawl spaces or along your exterior basement walls are in the most danger of freezing. Make sure that these pipes have the proper insulation to keep them protected.

• Wrapping pipes before freezing temps cause a water damage  -  Thermal tape is a great way to protect from freezing, and can be applied easily. Just wrap thermal tape around the outside of your exposed pipes.  Just make sure that all exposed parts are covered.

• Sealing air leaks in walls near your piping - Any crack or leak, no matter how small, can let in cold air that can impact your water pipes. You can prevent this by inspecting your pipes before winter weather sets in, or call a qualified plumber to come in, inspect issues and insulating pipes that are in risky, drafty areas of your home/business.

• Running water during freezing temperatures - Continual water flow through your pipes can help keep them from freezing. This is especially true for pipes that are located along exterior walls. Just a small drip will do the trick!  Drip cold water slowly in a sink that is FURTHEST from your basement or lower level water main, to keep water moving.

Vacations:  At this time of the year, don't leave your heat on at only 50-degrees, if you leave town.  That’s especially true if you leave for a few days and have a split level home with rooms over a garage or unfinished and unheated basement.

Better to pay a little more in heat at 60 degrees, than come home to a house full of water.  Safety is, of course, the most important issue, if a frozen pipe bursts and water damages your lower, or even upper levels, in a home or business be sure it's NOT sewage water.  

If contaminated water, or sewage are involved, then home and property owners should stay out of the affected area(s).  Be aware of water that is up to or covers electrical outlets or is high enough to impact your breaker box. 

Call a plumber to turn off the water and stop further damage, and we know many great plumbers who help our clients, as help there.

Then, call a  restoration company, one that handles water damages that may have contaminants and who are certified in water damage cleanup.  Provided that yours or a client’s home is structurally safe, our Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon  recommends several actions that homeowners can take after an incident.  

These are steps that will help in the cleanup and recovery after a water damage, while waiting wait for help from a reliable plumber and a professional cleanup service. 

This is particularly important for you to start the process in a large storm situation like a winter snow storm and arctic temps in early 2014 -- "Hercules" -- to catastophic Hurricanes -- like Sandy and Irene.  It's supposed to go down to 18 degrees tonight and 6 degrees overnight this weekend...wow!

The following tips can help homeowners save valuable possessions and money, after a water or flood damage. 

Homeowners should:

• Safely turn the home’s water main off if running water inside the house is the source of the problem.
• Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.
• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.
• Remove and prop up wet upholstery and pillow cushions for even drying.
• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
• Turn air conditioning on the maximum drying (in summer).
• Remove Oriental rugs or other fine, colored rugs from wet wall-to-wall carpeting.
• Remove valuable paintings and art objects to a safe, dry place.
• Open and place luggage in sunlight to dry, if possible.
• Gather loose items, toys, etc. from floors.

Home and Business Owners should NOT:

• Leave wet fabrics in place. Dry fabrics as soon as possible and hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.
• Leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpets or floors.
• Use your household vacuum to remove water.
• Use televisions or other household appliances while standing on wet carpets of floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.
• Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water.

If water damage has resulted in exposure to sewage and other harmful waste, we advise you to: 

• Stay out of the affected areas.
• Call emergency service personnel if the situation is life-threatening.
• Treat all bodily fluids as if they are contaminated.
• Turn off the HVAC system if there is a sewage system damage.

Our complete tips list for water damages are available at:  www.servproofscarsdalemountvernon.com\water-damage-tips

 Will we have frozen pipes & water damage in Eastchester NY with low temps around 6 degrees?!