Pipe Burst Problems and Prevention

12/22/2022 (Permalink)

Pipe burst in Peace School

With winter finally here, and the snow and cold due to come, the most optimal time for pipe bursts comes along with it. The cold winter months are responsible for thousands of pipe bursts yearly, with the potential of more than 5,000 dollars in damage as a result. We at SERVPRO of Marine City / Romeo know this situation too well, as it is responsible for many of the floods we see during the winter months. These situations usually arise when pipes are not insulated well enough and when the temperature gets very low, causing the water inside to freeze. When water freezes, it expands, increasing the pressure in the pipe and causing it to burst, letting out freezing cold water and damaging all surrounding structures. An example of this is shown in the attached image, where a pipe burst in a classroom, flooding and damaging the room and its contents. With this happening so often, we at SERVPRO of Marine City / Romeo have some important safety tips that can help prevent a disaster like this from occurring.

• First off, make sure your pipes are insulated, as without insulation, the pipes are very likely to freeze. One dollar a foot for insulation is way better than 5,000 dollars in damage.

• Secondly, keep your home heated and at a constant temperature, preferably at least 55°F, to help prevent pipes from freezing. While you may be paying more for your heating bill. It definitely beats the cost of cleaning up the mess from a burst pipe.

• Lastly, if needed, leave a sink slow dripping to allow water movement in the pipes. This helps prevent water from freezing as moving water has connecting energy, which is transferred into heat energy from friction in the pipe.

Overall, with the wave of cold months arriving, make sure to stay safe and warm, and while you're at it,  keep those pipes warm too. If all else fails, a hairdryer on the pipes may do the trick. In the event that a pipe does burst, make sure to give us a call at (586)336-7373. We at SERVPRO are available 24/7 and faster to any-size disaster. We will make your cold crisis seem “Like it never even happened.”