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(603) 641-6555

Water Damage Repair: How to Prevent Winter Water Damage in New Hampshire for Vacated Properties

Written by chrischambers on . Posted in , .

With the cold weather upon us, many New Hampshire residents will face the problem of water damage stemming from colder temperatures and other problems including power outages. This is a serious concern for owners of vacated properties. This could mean a seasonal home, a family on extended vacation or a house for sale. Our water damage repair experts at Soil Away have compiled the following blog to give you some tips for preventing water damage in vacated properties. The goal is to keep your home in shape throughout the winter months.

Water Supply

Water damage from frozen pipes is a common occurance in NH. One effective way of preventing water damage in the winter is to turn off the water supply to your vacated home. If the property is going to be vacant for an extended period of time, there’s no point in keeping it running and risking damage to your pipes and home. Turning off your water supply can be done in the following manner:

  • Locate the valve of the main water supply and turn it off
  • Open a tap on the upper floor of your home
  • If the flow decreases to a dribble, your supply is sealed
  • If it continues to run, try turning the supply off again
  • Contact a plumbing professional if you have any concerns or hesitations

Water Taps

Another great way to prevent water damage is to leave your taps open when your supply is off. Sometimes, water that remains in your pipes will freeze and expand, which can lead to damage. By leaving your taps open, you allow the expansion to proceed naturally and this will push the remaining water towards the open tap and into your sink.

Draining Your Water System

Draining your water system is another way to prevent water damage. Most water systems have a “stop and drain” button or valve located near the shut-off that makes this process very simple. For very long absences, consider adding non-toxic anti-freeze into your drains and toilet bowls. Again, contact a plumbing professional if you have any concerns or hesitations

Heat and Monitoring

If the above suggestions are not an option, we recommend maintaining proper heat levels. Maintaining adequate temperature in the vacated property will help prevent water damage from frozen pipes. You should also make arrangements with a trusted family member or friend to check on the house. Regular inspections should be scheduled to make sure no problems have developed.
The water damage repair process is a lot of work. Avoiding water damage should be a property owner’s priority. Vacated properties in the cold NH winter months are extra vulnerable to damage. However, by following the tips above you can avoid this repair process altogether with a little bit of effort and understanding of your home’s water supply system. For further questions or concerns, give us a call anytime at (603) 301-4863 and we’ll be happy to help you out.

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Jay KorsenJay Korsen
00:51 04 Aug 22
All I have to say is WOW and FANTASTIC. I just got done building out my new professional office with Soil-Away’s construction division and they went ABOVE and BEYOND. Scott and Mike, the carpenters are skilled artisans. The project got done on time and the project came in on budget! The finished results have been blowing people away. Much better than I could have anticipated. Anyone is welcome to come to our office, Bright Light Chiropractic in Hooksett to check out the fine work they did. Simply can’t sing enough praises for them. Sorry that the picture doesn’t do the job justice. Thank you Jack and your team. -Dr. Jay
Asian BreezeAsian Breeze
04:28 15 Jul 22
Since day one, I’ve known the owner, Jack, to be a hard-working and selfless leader. Through the efforts of him and his team, he was able to restore my flooded restaurant to tip-top shape. I was amazed with Jack’s orderliness throughout the entire process. Jack has proven to me that he is trustworthy, as both a friend and an individual in the work environment.
Breton LangendorferBreton Langendorfer
21:17 07 Jul 22
Highly recommend Soil-Away. A pipe in our upstairs bathroom gave and sent water down through a wall for at least a day before we noticed water dripping through our kitchen ceiling. Our insurance put us in touch with Soil-Away and they were at our house the next morning to assess the damage and dry things out. Joe, Ray and Tom were phenomenal to work with. They explained every part of the process to us and were very professional and friendly. If you have to deal with similar issues call Soil-Away, you won’t regret it.
Maureen CidzikMaureen Cidzik
13:49 15 May 22
Superior service from start to finish. Highly responsive. The entire team is dedicated to quality and customer care and it shows in everything they do – from first call, to estimate, to job completion.
Sarah GrugnaleSarah Grugnale
16:02 14 Jan 22
Joe and Tommy were amazing to deal with, they kept us updated every step of the process. They were punctual and hard working, answering all of our questions that we had. Everything was done as promised and even above and beyond. A great experience from start to finish.
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