How to Avert the Thousands of Dollars in Water Damage a Frozen Pipe Can Cause
What is going on in your walls once the thermometer goes below zero? You may not know how fast one ruptured pipe can put a room under water and saturate your floors. Nor are you certain what the tab for the cleanup will be should it occur when you are out of the house or in bed.
We at United Water Restoration Group of Long Island have been around long enough to have seen the consequences of frozen pipes on more than we care to remember. Since 2019 we have put in our work for homeowners and commercial clients in Nassau and Suffolk County. On a cold night when a pipe gives way, they get in touch with us at (631) 832-4649. With some forethought and the right kind of knowledge, however, these are the sort of disasters that do not have to happen.
The High Price of a Frozen Pipe
Water expands upon freezing. It is a matter of physics, but one that can make an otherwise uneventful winter night very costly. The ice building up in a pipe exerts pressure on its walls until there is a break. Once the pipe has cracked or burst and the ice begins to thaw, the damage is done.
In a matter of minutes a home can be inundated with hundreds of gallons of water from a burst pipe. It will not remain on top of things; you will find it behind the cabinets, in the subflooring and drywall, in nooks and crannies. In as little as two days it will have set the stage for mold. A frozen pipe is seldom an inexpensive problem to put right. For sure the plumber’s bill is only the beginning; the restoration of the water damage is where one finds the cost running into the thousands.
Pipes in Jeopardy
There is a hierarchy of risk among the pipes in a home. Certain ones are prone to freeze. When the weather turns you should be looking at:
- Those in the attic, garage or crawl space
- Pipes with scant insulation against an outside wall
- Your outdoor hose bibs and sprinkler lines
- Basement pipes that are not well heated
- Supply lines to any appliance in a cold part of the house
- Any pipe in a property left without heat
For the owner of a seasonal place in East Hampton, Shelter Island or Montauk, the risks are compounded in the months the house is unoccupied.
A Few Ways to Head Off Trouble
You need not engage a contractor or put a dent in your budget to see to the protection of your pipes. Some simple habits will keep your home from flooding and save you the hassle of an insurance claim.
Do the following in cold weather:
- Put foam sleeves or wrap on any exposed pipe
- On the coldest of nights allow a faucet to run a bit
- Get the cabinet doors open to let some warmth to the pipes beneath the sink
- Do not let the thermostat drop below 55, even if you are not home
- Before the first freeze comes, drain and put away the garden hoses
- Close up any cracks or gaps that let in the cold near your pipes
- Make note of the location of the main shutoff valve
Most people do not give that last item the attention it deserves. Should a pipe burst, turning off the water in short order means the difference between a minor chore and a full scale restoration.
If You Are Not Lucky Enough to Prevent It
Careful as they are, some homeowners are taken by surprise. An unexpected cold spell, a loss of power or a pipe in the attic that was missed can cause problems. And at 2 a.m. with water on the floor, one wants to talk to someone who is there to help.
With United Water Restoration Group of Long Island you will speak to a person, not an answering service or voicemail, 24/7. We are IICRC Certified and licensed and insured, with an A+ from the BBB and four time honorees as Best Restoration Company of Long Island. Our team does the water and mold remediation, the reconstruction and works the insurance claims for you, and it is the same people you deal with from start to finish. We provide free visual assessments and inspections, have financing options and will work with your insurer.
Make use of the steps here and put our number in your phone so you are ready for the occasion you would rather not have. But if you are in over your head, call us at (631) 832-4649, day or night, and we will come out.
