How to Winterize!

10/22/2021 (Permalink)

How to Winterize!

Winter arrives quickly and the temperature rapidly drop.  A lot of people ask, "how do you know how to prepare for a freeze?"  Some people think preparation isn’t necessarily needed.  Plumbing is very susceptible to freezing and commonly bursts with cold temperatures.  When pipes burst this can turn into a very costly situation. 

There is a course of action that can be taken to help in preparation for risks of having pipes freeze and burst.

You should inspect your home or business for any exposed water or drain piping that are in non-insulated areas such as a crawlspaces, attics, or exterior walls.  To help the piping in these areas from freezing you should insulate them with foam insulation or wrap them with electrical heating tape.  

Any exterior faucets should be inspected, and the water supply should be turned off inside the house.  Garden hoses should be disconnected from outdoor faucets.  The excess water should be drained from the opening of the exterior faucet.  There are insulated covers to go over these exterior faucets and can be purchased at your local hardware store.  

Some things to help eliminate risks of pipes freezing on the interior of the home is opening doors under your sinks to promote warm air circulation.  Circulate the water in your home by placing at least one sink in the home on a slow drip.  Keep the temperature in your home warmer than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  

If you do run into a broken or leaking pipe, shut the water supply off immediately.  Doing this will help prevent further additional damage.  

Give SERVPRO of Northwest Albuquerque a call for all your Water Damage Restoration needs at (505) 503-8627.