Flood Damage From Water Pipes in Minneapolis

flood damage minneapolisIn the winter season, flood damage can occur when you least expect it. Especially when it happens to areas of your home that are affected by temperature or weather. A few of those areas include your water pipes or water system.

Pipes often burst due to ice blockage when water expands and shuts off water movement. However, the majority of pipes burst when continued freezing extends further down the pipe and increases water pressure, eventually leading to pipes bursting, but there are many ways to prevent flood damage to your home due to frozen pipes bursting.

Here are a few ways to prevent your pipes from bursting and creating house floods or other water damage:

Minneapolis, as part of the northern region of the United States, normally houses pipes in-home, built within the walls and insulated from outside air. However, cold air leaking into the home may cause water to freeze inside your pipes. To be certain your pipes won’t freeze, make sure there are no inlets to your home from the outside. Use caulk to seal up cracks and holes in foundations and walls.

If you are planning on being away from home for a time, leave the heat on! Low temperatures may cause water/ice blockage to build up and cause pipes to freeze and burst. Keeping your heat on and regulated will consistently warm your pipes. Large fluctuations in temperature will cause more harm than good.

Remember to always check those areas around your home that may be cut off from warmth such as basements, specified rooms, garages, and other areas. In places where heat is well-circulated, you can leave cabinets and drawers open to allow warmth to reach pipes.

Insulation sleeves are an easy way to ensure that your pipes will not freeze and cause water damage. Many hardware stores carry insulation sleeves of all types so that you can find one that best suits your home’s needs. If pipe-specific insulation sleeves are not available near you, you should be able to find other ways to insulate. One example is foam rubber that you can wrap around your pipes and secure with insulation tape or a band.

You can also use insulation or heat tape to run along your pipes. This may be easier in areas where multiple pipes are stacked or there isn’t enough space to use an insulation sleeve.

There are two kinds of heat tape: those with thermostats and those without. Be careful to avoid leaving non-regulatory heat tape, as it can be dangerous and cause problems if it is not routinely checked or on a schedule. Heat tape or cables with thermostats are easier to maintain and automatically adjust the temperature when needed.

If you think that a pipe may have burst, immediately contact a water damage restoration service like 24 Restore to help. The quicker cleanup professionals come to your aid, the less damage will occur. You may also choose to call a plumber if you are unsure whether or not a pipe has frozen. Be careful when trying to attempt to thaw frozen pipes by yourself, as you may cause additional damage.