During the winter months, there’s a lot to keep track of: holiday gifts, travel, snow days. But one thing you might not pay much attention to is your pipes. Unfortunately, if your pipes freeze, they can burst, leading to costly water damage.
Why Do Pipes Burst?
Pipes bursting can be a huge problem for homeowners. So, why does it happen? When water freezes, it starts to take up more space than it does in liquid form, because the molecules change shape. This raises the pressure in your pipes. If the faucet is closed, there’s nowhere for the water to go and release the pressure, and the pipe can burst.
How Can I Prevent My Pipes From Bursting?
There are two basic steps you can take that can help decrease the changes of your pipes freezing and bursting.
- Heat or insulate pipes. This is a good solution for faucets that get exposed to the colder temperatures, including pipes in your attic or basement, where you might have less insulation.
- Keep the faucet open. Having a slow drip from your faucet during really cold days prevents dangerour pressure from building up in your pipes.
What Should I Do If I Have A Burst Pipe?
- First, turn off the water supply and fix the pipes. The longer your pipe is leaking water, the more damage the water itself can do. The best way to deal with a burst pipe is to call a professional for burst and leaking pipe repair. You want to make sure the replacement pipe is installed correctly, without leaks, so you don’t get more water damage in the future.
- Next, anything that got wet should be dried quickly. Mold can grow quickly in damp environments, even in the winter. Some molds can grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
- Finally, if any mold grows before you fix your water damage, the mold should be removed. A thorough process called mold remediation will remove the mold entirely from any affected areas, preventing further growth.
Green Restoration Can Help
At Green Restoration, we can help you clean up from any type of water damage or mold growth, including when your pipes burst. Keep your home and your family safe this winter, and don’t let mold or water issues compound. Contact us today for a free quote.