The most predictable thing about Midwest weather is that it’s going to be completely unpredictable. You may start your morning in a coat and scarf, but by the afternoon you’re in shorts and a tee-shirt. One thing many people aren’t thinking about yet is the threat of frozen pipes, but the reality is pipes can burst and cause flooding in both cold and warm temperatures. This happens when ice blockages form inside pipes during wintry weather and un-thaw as temperatures begin to warm, causing breaks in the pipe that may result in a major flood.
It is important to take steps before the cold arrives to protect your property from frozen pipes. It is a well-known fact that as the temperatures begin to drop, the cost in insurance claims begins to rise.
Before the wintry weather arrives:
Remove, drain, and store outdoor hoses
Drain water out of your outdoor sprinkler systems
Close interior water valves that supply outdoor hose bibs & open outside hose bibs to allow water to drain
Keep outside valves open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break
Check to make sure hot and cold-water pipes are insulated, especially in unheated areas such as basements or warehouse spaces
Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a “pipe sleeve,” UL-listed “heat tape” “heat cable,” or similar materials on exposed water pipes
Know where your main water shut-off valve is
Know who you’re going to call in case of an emergency, such as a plumber, electrician, and HarenLaughlin Restoration
If you’re going away during the cold weather, or your commercial space is going to be closed for the season, be sure to winterize your pipes and/or leave your heat on and set to a temperature no lower than 55° F. It is also important to check on your property throughout the winter in case flooding does happen, ensuring you are able to catch it before it causes extreme damage to your property.
If disaster does strike and you’re left with a water loss due to frozen pipes- HL Restoration is here to help. Simply call our 24/7 Emergency Response line at (913) 890-3473.