Spring may be on the horizon, but New England is still experiencing temperatures that are dipping below the freezing mark, which means your pipes could still be at risk for bursting.
How to Prevent Pipes from Bursting
Here are five proactive steps that you can take to help prevent your home or business from experiencing a burst pipe, as well as any resulting water damage.
- Keep your house or business heated, even when it isn’t occupied. While it’s natural to want to save money on heating costs, don’t ever turn your heat all the way off. Instead, set your thermostat at around 60 degrees. That’s because if you turn your heat completely off and temperatures drop below freezing, the water inside the pipes can freeze. When water freezes, it expands and swells, which could cause your pipes to burst, and water to flood your home or business.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors. This will allow warmer air from your home to circulate around the plumbing. However, if you have young children or curious pets, make sure to remove any harmful cleaners and household chemicals first.
- Make sure water is moving through your pipes. The sound of a dripping faucet can be annoying when you are at home trying to relax, but it’s a good idea to let your faucet drip if you are going to be away for a long period of time during the cold winter months. If water is simply sitting stagnant in your pipes for a prolonged time it can freeze. If you are going to be away for a few days or more, turn on faucets so that a slight amount of water can trickle out. This keeps will keep water moving in the pipes, and a lot less likely to freeze.
- Seal up cracks and holes. Keep warm air in and cold air out by caulking any holes or cracks that exist near pipes in both interior and exterior walls.
- Check your pipes. It’s a good idea to inspect your pipes from time to time, especially after a stretch of, particularly cold weather. If possible, insulate pipes in the colder parts of your home or office, such as the basement.
If a pipe does burst, it’s important to act fast. Shut off the water main and call the experts at Octagon Cleaning & Restoration. Our team can begin the drying out process immediately, and also take steps to mitigate any potential mold growth, which can occur if a building isn’t properly dried. It only takes 48-72 hours for mold to develop, so it’s important to have your business or home treated as soon as possible.
If you live in New Hampshire and are experiencing water damage issues, such as burst pipes, you can call the Octagon Cleaning & Restoration team at (603) 239-2100. In Maine, you can reach us at (207) 893-0002.