[Updated January 11. 2022]
Plummeting temperatures can wreak havoc on plumbing. A ruptured pipe can cause extensive, costly damage and disrupt your life or business. Worse, floodwater can pose numerous safety and health risks, ranging from electric shock to illness from waterborne pathogens or even toxic mold.
With your family or business on the line, you will want to do everything you can to prevent water from freezing inside your plumbing; or if the unforeseeable happens and you find your pipes frozen - take the steps to prevent pipes from bursting and safely thaw them.
A frozen pipe will not necessarily burst if the faucet valve is open to release pressure moving down the pipe.
Start with prevention:
Here are five steps you can take right now to reduce the risk of frozen pipes. Make sure you winterize your property outdoors, draining pools and irrigation systems and hoses, insulating and covering outdoor faucets and securing doors and windows in garages and outbuildings with water supplies. Also, be sure to follow these tips from the American Red Cross:
If pipes freeze, don’t panic, do this:
If you wake up one morning and the water won’t come on in your kitchen, don’t panic. While horrifying visions of water filling crawl spaces and mold spores sprouting may be unavoidable, a frozen pipe will not necessarily burst if the faucet valve is open to release pressure moving down the pipe. Take a deep breath, and then follow these American Red Cross tips to safely thaw your pipe:
These tips should help minimize the risk of plumbing ruptures from frozen pipes. Call your agent at Baldwin | Welsh & Parker to file a claim if needed, and to make sure you have protection in the event you find yourself facing a water damage catastrophe from frozen, ruptured pipes. And if you experience frozen pipes, give us a call to help you submit a claim. You can also file a claim directly with your insurance company.
Waltham, MA - 781-890-3740
Hudson, MA - 978-562-5652
Wayland, MA - 508-358-5383
Winthrop, MA - 617-846-0731