Water Damage and Frozen Pipes in Cedar Rapids

The cold weather we have here in Cedar Rapids during the winter months often sees temperatures below the freezing point. That means our pipes are at risk of freezing all winter long. Frozen pipes can result in water damage in your home, so we are going to give you all the information you need to keep your pipes from freezing during these cold months. 

Water Damage in Cedar Rapids

• Keep the cabinet doors under sinks open to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
• Apply insulation to exterior pipes and pipes that run through the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and any other area of the home that is not insulated or does not receive heat. You can purchase different types of pipe insulation from your local hardware store. There are even electric insulation options you can apply to pipes to help thaw them if they have already frozen. 
• Set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature and leave it there, day and night. Keeping a warm, regulated temperature throughout your home can help keep your pipes from freezing, thawing, and freezing again – which can result in bursts or leaks (and a lot of water damage).
• Allow a steady drip of cold water to fall from your faucets. Turning faucets on just enough to get a slow constant drip of water will ensure that the water inside the pipes is not just standing still. Standing water freezes, while moving water does not. Even a small drip can keep water from freezing inside your pipes. 
• If all else fails, you can place space heaters in areas of the home that do not get as much heat near the pipes that run through those places. Just be sure to never leave a space heater unattended, and be sure to plug them into outlets with a ground-fault circuit interrupter to reduce the risk of fires. 
• Be sure to remove exterior hoses from exterior faucets. Standing water can freeze in your hoses and back up all the way to the faucet, causing the pipe to freeze and burst. 

If you go to turn on a faucet this winter and no water comes out, your pipe is probably frozen. Don’t panic, here’s what you need to do. First, leave the faucet turned on. When water freezes it expands, putting unnecessary pressure on the pipe walls. This pressure is what causes pipes to leak and burst, leaving you with a big mess of water damage. Keeping the faucets turned on can help release some of that pressure by allowing the water to exit the pipes quickly as soon as it thaws. Next, you need to thaw the pipe. Heated pipe insulation works just like a heated blanket and when applied to the pipe and plugged in can thaw the frozen water inside the pipe. You can also use a hairdryer to heat up the pipe or space heaters, just be sure to never leave these devices plugged in unattended. Once water flow has returned, be sure to keep pipes insulated and warm to prevent them from freezing again. If the pipes in your home have leaks or have burst from being frozen, you can call Challis Restoration Services to handle all your water damage needs.