How to Avoid Frozen Pipes This Winter at Your New Paltz Home or Business

11/8/2019 (Permalink)

Just a few easy steps can really help in avoiding frozen pipes in your home or business this winter!

Pipe bursts resulting from frozen pipes are one of the most common water damages that the professionals of SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz handle during the winter months. Hudson Valley winters are notoriously unpredictable so a few tips to protect your home and office from water damage can help deter a potential disaster.

The simple truth is, when water freezes, it expands. A pipe can only allow that water to expand so far before it bursts. However, it's not necessarily the frozen water the caused the burst. The water pressure between the ice and the closed faucet has enough force to break a pipe and cause water damage anywhere. 

Some tips on how to prevent frozen pipes:

-Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells.

-Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through the faucets.

-Keep your home or office temperature no lower than 55 degrees F.

-If you’re going to be away, have someone check on your house or business daily to make sure it's warm enough. Many of our customer’s have come home from vacation to find their home heavily damaged by unknown burst pipes.

-Seal leaks that allow cold air inside where pipes are located. Weather stripping and caulking are inexpensive ways to help the cold air stay out.

-Insulate pipes in crawl spaces, basements and attics. These are the area’s most susceptible to freezing.

If you find you have frozen pipes, call a plumber immediately. The longer you wait, the worse the damage can be.

Should you experience any kind of water damage, call the trained professionals at SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz at (845)255-4334, we’re here to help 24/7 for emergencies and will get that disaster taken care of “Like it never even happened.”