Navigating a cold snap can present significant challenges for inexperienced home or business owners. Often, many fail to insulate their pipes from the cold, leading to burst pipes and the need to call water damage restoration services.
Fortunately, protecting plumbing can help property owners avoid water damage or burst pipes.
How Cold Temperatures Cause Water Damage
Many property owners in and around Auburn, GA, mistakenly assume temperatures can’t go low enough to freeze pipes. In reality, Georgia sees its fair share of below-freezing temperatures.
Freezing temperatures cause water molecules to expand, making water and other waste more viscous and slow-moving. In some cases, water in pipes might freeze altogether, completely stopping the flow of waste or water through the pipes.
Why Prevention Is Important
Some may consider frozen pipes a non-issue, assuming they will simply thaw as temperatures warm up. However, temperatures in winter may not rise above freezing for some time, and when they do, the unfreezing process can take time. In the meantime, homeowners cannot use the frozen pipes, meaning no tap water, toilet flushing, or showering.
In addition to rendering plumbing unusable, frozen water can expand and damage or burst pipes, leading to leaks, water damage, and expensive repair bills.
How Experts Protect Plumbing Pipes Before Winter
What do the professionals do to prevent water damage and other issues during cold winter temperatures? Homeowners can perform several steps to ensure residential and commercial plumbing stays shielded from the cold.
Add Insulation
Plumbers use pipe wrap insulation to cover pipes under sinks traveling to and from water heaters. This insulation protects pipes from external temperatures and prevents appliances from needing to work harder due to the cold.
Clear and Protect Shut-off Access Points
Should pipes freeze, property owners and plumbers require access to water shut-off points. To prepare plumbing for winter weather, ensure that water meters and pump shut-offs remain accessible and free of debris or ice during storms.
Disconnect and Turn Off Outdoor Spigots
Outdoor fixtures and garden hoses react to freezing temperatures first. To prevent freezing and reduce the risk of water damage from a burst pipe, turn off outside spigots and store garden hoses away until spring.
Wrap Commercial Fire Lines
To protect fire response lines and sprinklers, experts install insulation on the exterior or the places that receive the coldest temperatures to ensure the sprinklers still work in case of a fire.
Perform Regular Inspections
Property owners schedule regular inspections with trusted plumbing professionals to protect plumbing and prevent water damage. Staying ahead of any necessary repairs helps enhance protection during cold winter temperatures.
Professional Water Damage Restoration from Matrix Mitigation Services
Navigating repairs after a fire or storm presents several challenges and risks. With professional guidance, however, property owners can restore their property to safety and comfort while saving time and stress.
The Matrix Mitigation Services team understands the importance of dependable, affordable restoration services. As a family-owned and -operated fire and water damage restoration company, these compassionate professionals care for each project as they would their own homes. To learn more about the Matrix Mitigation Services water damage restoration process, call (855) 541-1010 today.
