Worried about a frozen water pipe that may burst and damage your home? Homes built in North and South Carolina, and Georgia do not really take into account freezing weather so many homes have water pipes that can freeze and burst during a sudden drop in temperature. These pipes are usually located in unheated garages, basements, crawl spaces, attics, and outside walls. Frozen water pipes burst because the ice expands and causes leaks at the weakest connection points.
Damage from a frozen pipe can include burst pipes, flooding, and water damage to walls, floors, and furniture. To avoid this damage, it is important to take steps to prevent pipes from freezing in the first place. This includes insulating exposed pipes, keeping the thermostat set at a minimum of 55° and a number of other actions (please read our post “How To Prevent Your Water Pipes From Freezing”)
Damage Caused By A Burst Frozen Water Pipe
One of the reasons frozen pipes burst is fluctuations in temperature which cause the water to contract or melt and expand or freeze. This expansion/contraction process placed stress on the pipes and pipe joints which eventually causes them to burst especially if the pipes are full of water and there is significant water pressure.
What To Do Until Help Arrives
The moment you notice that a pipe may have burst, you must shut off the water supply to the pipe to limit the water damage. If there is the possibility of water coming in contact with electrical appliances or outlets, you should shut off electrical power to affected areas of your home but do not attempt if you are not sure how to do it.
Additionally, if you are able, you should try to clean up water right away before it penetrates your floors and walls. For the cleanup, you can use buckets, mops, a wet/dry vacuum, and anything, like towels, which can absorb water. You should also wipe water from furniture
Contact Water Damage Restoration Professionals
It’s also important that you contact a professional water damage restoration service like Biotek Environmental, Inc. The source of the water must be contained and the drying process must be started immediately in order to prevent structural damage or mold growth. If the damage is extensive, it’s also a good idea to notify your home insurance agent since most homeowners insurance policies usually cover burst pipes and the resulting water damage.
If the water damage is not contained as soon as possible, you will most likely experience secondary damage throughout your home. When water and moisture come into contact with exterior walls, doors, and windows, they can freeze and result in damage to drywall and joints. If the moisture between the walls and floors is not removed completely, it can also cause mold growth.
Water Damage Cleanup Procedures
Water damage remediation and restoration companies like BioTek Environmental Inc. are available 24/7, 365 days a year. BioTek’s crews respond quickly and always handle the water damage repair in accordance with proven industry standards, in order to ensure the cost of mitigation is minimized. In addition, the potential for mold growth is eliminated.
Assessment of the Situation
In all damage situations, it is critical to get the source of the water contained and drying started immediately to help avoid structural damage or mold growth. The burst pipes are repaired and inspections are performed on all other pipes in the affected area to ensure they are not also frozen.
Furthermore, a safety inspection of your home is performed, and an initial damages assessment. As we have already mentioned, water can create dangerous hazards when it reaches areas with electrical outlets or panels. An experienced water damage restoration company is aware of such hazards and takes them into consideration when developing a strategy for water removal and damage repair.
Water Removal
The next step is to remove the water as quickly and carefully as possible with minimal damage to your home’s structure. We use water removal equipment such as portable flood pumps and high-volume water vacuums.
Drying Process
The drying process is extremely important since all moisture must be removed to protect the structure of your home, your furniture, and floor covering, and to prevent mold growth. Our water remediation experts use air movers and special dehumidifiers to dry and remove as much moisture as possible from the affected areas of your home.
Cleaning and Sanitation
After the drying process, the areas affected by water damage must be cleaned, sanitized, and deodorized. This includes cleaning and sanitizing the walls, floors, carpets, furniture, and personal objects. Our teams always use eco-friendly and only the safest, non-toxic procedures and products to repair and restore your water or flood-damaged home to ensure you will have a healthy environment without toxins, bacteria, or mold.
Restoration / Reconstruction Stage
The final stage is the restoration or reconstruction of the water-damaged areas of your home. At this stage, any damaged drywall, or flooring (including carpets) will be replaced or repaired. Naturally, all plumbing, electrical outlets/fixtures, and any woodwork will also be replaced or repaired so you can have a fully functional home.
Contact Water Damage Restoration Experts
A frozen water pipe can burst and cause water damage that may be serious and costly if it is not repaired immediately and properly by professionals. If you have water damage, you should contact professionals who specialize in water damage repair and restoration.
You can depend on Biotek Environmental, Inc. to provide you with professional water damage repair and restoration services in NC, Georgia, and SC, including Columbia, Greenville, and Spartanburg. We can give you peace of mind, and also save you money on water damage and flood repair. We will work diligently to protect your home and family from the serious health risks of water damage. Call us toll-free at 866-630-7340 any time of the day or night, 365 days a year, or contact us online now.
