In our region, extreme cold is rare, but that makes us even more vulnerable to winter home hazards when they do occur. One of the most overlooked winter home hazards is busted water pipes, often due to the “out of sight, out of mind” problem. When outdoor temperatures drop below freezing, the water inside pipes can freeze. As the water expands, it increases pressure inside the pipes, potentially leading to bursts. To avoid this, open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, insulate pipes, especially those near outside walls, attics, or crawl spaces, and leave faucets dripping at night when temperatures are at their lowest. Additionally, it’s wise to identify the locations of shutoff valves so you can quickly stop the flow of water if a pipe does burst. In the event of a burst pipe, here’s what you should do:
- Shut off the water immediately to prevent additional damage.
- Take proper precautions to avoid an electrical shock from being in or near standing water.
- Bishop Clean Care should be your FIRST call. Every second counts when it comes to removing the water from your home and saving your belongings. We are a certified water mitigation specialist and can work with you and your insurance company through the process of your claim. The most important thing is to make the call to get the water out first.
- Take an inventory of any damaged property or possessions.
Bishop can help if you ever find yourself in this situation. We can get your home back to normal again. Call or contact us at (229) 883-1202 if you ever need us.