What To Do If Your Water Main Bursts Or Freezes

As the coldest time of year approaches homes will suffer from frozen and burst pipes. Properties are likely to flood and millions of dollars worth of damage are almost inevitable.

Water exerts incredibly powerful pressure when it freezes. This can block and even burst pipes, whatever they are made of – copper, plastic, concrete or steel. It’s among the commonest causes of home insurance claims, but so many people fail to take measures to prevent the problems happening. Many also don’t know what they should o if and when it ever happens.

Preparing pipes for the freeze

There are various precautions you can take.

Insulation

You can insulate your water tank but carefully securing a glass fibre jacket around the structure. If your home has a header tank in the loft space, you should make sure this is completely enclosed.

Any visible pipes should be lagged by inserting insulation around them. It’s preferable to use pre-formed foam that can be wrapped around them. It’s recommended the foam is a minimum of 50mm diameter.

This must be done as soon as possible and before the weather gets too cold. Tally homeowners never hesitate to call their water damage restoration company in Tallahassee to have their properties checked for potential risks. Addressing potential issues before the weather takes a turn for the worst can save you time, money, and stress in the long run.

Fix any dripping taps

Dripping taps are among the major causes of freezing problems with piping. They freeze easily and can eventually lead to blocked pipes. It’s best to have them fixed and to replace any faulty washers.

If you do experience a frozen or burst pipe, it’s important to act quickly and contact a water damage restoration service, they will be able to assess the extent of the damage and provide proper repairs. These professionals have the expertise and equipment to properly handle the situation and prevent further damage to your property.

Keep the roof warm

When it is really cold days, it can be advisable to slightly open loft doors and any hatches. This allows warmer air into roof spaces.

Disconnect outdoor hoses

It is a good idea to disconnect any garden hoses and if possible switch them off at their inside valve.

Dealing with frozen pipes

As the cold weather approaches make sure you know where your home’s stopcock or stop tap is located. Often it’s fitted under the kitchen sink, but it could be in the street outside. When you need to detect a frozen pipe it is necessary to turn this tap off to minimize the water damage if and when a pipe bursts.

To diminish damage in case the pipes burst it’s important to move possessions like furniture and clothing if they are near any frozen pipes. You also don’t want water anywhere near your home’s electricity mains box, especially if the frozen pipe is close.

To find out the location of any frozen pipes, you need to check the flow of water in areas like the kitchen, bathroom, shower rooms and any toilets. If there is no or very little flow, it means you are close to a frozen area of the pipe. This is when you should feel along the pipes to find frozen areas and to discover any bulging.

To thaw pipes use a hairdryer or a hot water bottle – never use a blowtorch! The taps nearest frozen pipes need to be opened to let out any melting water.

If you’re not sure call Green Star Plumbing Company in Grand Prairie, TX. We know what we’re doing and can help you sort out any problems or find any frozen pipes.

To deal with burst pipes, turn off the water supply. Then you should drain your system, to get as much water out as possible and prevent water from spilling throughout the house. A good place to start is by turning on all the cold taps and by flushing toilets.

You also need to switch off your central heating system and shut down the boiler. If you have them, don’t forget to switch off any immersion heaters. When this has been done the system needs to be drained further by turning on all the hot water taps. If necessary turn off the electrics, at the mains if necessary.

If you need any help during the cold snap please don’t hesitate to contact the Green Star Plumbing Company. We are always here to help deal with a water main 24/7.