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Yikes! Frozen Pipes! Don't Let Freezing Temperatures Lead to Frozen Pipes – Part I

Written by jsolloway on . Posted in , , .

Having frozen pipes is something that no home or business owner wants to experience, as it can lead to unsightly water damage, costly repairs and even mold growth. Although the warmth of spring is just around the corner, there is still plenty of time for Old Man Winter to throw some snow, ice and frigid temperatures our way. After all, this is New England, right? So, before you decide to pack away your thermal socks and insulated gloves, it is important to remember that your home or business can still be impacted by February’s frosty temperatures-especially waterlines and pipes.
If you’re anything like me, worrying about frozen pipes sometimes take a back-seat to drive-way shoveling, preventing ice dams and other wintertime woes. So, what happens if your home or business’s pipes do freeze? Aside from wishing you didn’t decide to brave the cold weather all night long without the heat on, your friends at Soil-Away have provided some tips on what to do when the pipes in your home decide to match the frigid winter weather outside.

Why do Pipes Burst When Frozen?

Freezing pipes are enough to make any home or business owner cringe with frustration, as frozen pipes can lead to costly repairs and water damage. However, what exactly causes pipes to burst when frozen? According to the American Red Cross, water consists of unique molecules that expand while freezing, which causes a great deal of pressure on the structure or material that is holding the water, such as metal or plastic pipes and waterlines. The most common types of waterlines to freeze are: water sprinkler lines, swimming pool lines, and pipelines that run along unheated areas of structures such as attics, garages, crawl spaces and basements.

What to do When Pipes Freeze

Yikes! The pipes in your home or business are frozen, and you are unsure of what to do next, as dollar signs and frustration suddenly takes over. To help remediate frozen pipes, a helpful few things you can do to help thaw the effected pipe(s) is:

  • Keep the water faucet open and clear (as the water melts, it will begin to flow through the pipe again).
  • Apply heat to affected pipe to help thaw the area (i.e. hair dryer, portable space heater or a cloth wrapped in hot water.) Do NOT use flammable materials such as kerosene or propane heaters to thaw the area.
  • If you are unable to locate the frozen pipe or thaw the area enough to restore full water pressure, contact a licensed and insured plumber for further investigation.

Visit the American Red Cross, to learn more about what to do for frozen pipes or waterlines.

Soil-Away Is Here for You, New Hampshire!

Soil-Away is a family-owned and operated business that has been serving the communities of New Hampshire for the last 25 years, and are certified mold remediation and water damage mitigation experts. If your home or business experiences mold or water damage due to bursting pipes this winter season, contact the experts at 603-641-6555.
 
Written by: K. Gnatowski

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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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