How Frozen Pipes Cause Water Damage in Chicago

2/11/2020 (Permalink)

Winters can be brutal in Chicago. Take precautions to ensure that your pipes won't freeze.

SERVPRO Handles Burst Pipe Water Removal in Chicago 

While homeowners know the necessary precautions for preventing frozen pipes from bursting, they may be surprised to know that even during mild weather, all it takes for a pipe to burst is for the temperature to be at or below freezing. In a study of 433 Philadelphia burst pipe claims, the average loss incurred from frozen pipes was $27,000, but expenses were as much as $1.7 million for more significant properties. 

If wintry weather leads to you needing water removal for your Chicago residence, IICRC-certified SERVPRO technicians can arrive at your home within hours of your call to address the source of the damage and restore your home to preloss condition. SERVPRO's state-of-the-art tools and consistent adherence to Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards ensure that you get high quality and thorough cleanup anytime disaster occurs in your home. 

Preventing Pipes from Bursting in Wintry Weather

• Maintain adequate temperatures in your home. To minimize fire risk, do not use space heaters, but if you do, do not leave them unattended and make sure there are at least 3 feet from anything flammable. 

• Keep pipes insulated and make sure that there is warm air circulating wherever there are water pipes in your home, including in garages and unheated areas. 

• Run some cold water on each floor of your home, especially in the areas furthest from your water main. 

• Remove garden hoses from their bibs and cover them with hose bib insulating caps. 

How SERVPRO Can Help

If the pipe bursts under the floor, water can thoroughly saturate the carpet and potentially damage the subfloor if left unchecked. With this in mind, SERVPRO technicians can use a variety of extraction tools to address and remove the issue. If the carpet is salvageable, this team can pull it up and float it. We then use air movers and low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers to circulate air both over and under the carpet. 

However, the carpet may require removal and replacement if it is separated from the pad underneath. Exposure to moisture can weaken carpet as much 50%, so fast action is a must for restoring it. 

SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown wants to ensure that your home looks, "Like it never even happened." Call (773) 434-9100 for professional disaster mitigation at any time of the day or night. 

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