How Frozen Pipes Can Result in Extensive Water Damage

As the winter seems to get closer and closer, an annual concern we have in the Greater Minneapolis area is the freezing of pipes. This is something that will prove a major inconvenience, and can also result in catastrophic water damage. The break can spread water throughout your home and prove costly to repair. Here’s how frozen pipes can result in extensive water damage throughout your residential or commercial property in Greater Minneapolis, and how a little extra vigilance can go a long way this winter.

The Reason Pipes Burst When Frozen

The reason that pipes burst is much more scientific than people realize. If you are like most, you’d probably just assume that wherever the frozen blockage forms is where it would break, or that the ice’s expansion from the blockage’s continued freezing would become too great for a pipe to remain intact – but it’s actually neither of those things. According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, pipes burst due to the ever-increasing pressure between a frozen blockage within a pipe and the faucet. The actual burst happens somewhere in the middle between those two stopping points, and depending on where it is, the greater the damage it could potentially cause.

Mitigating a Pipe Burst

If you have one of these bursts from a frozen pipe, look for the signs. If it’s a fast-leaking burst and you see wet spots or warping on your walls, turn off your home’s water supply immediately at the source. Then, you will need to call in the help of a professional restoration company that can safely begin to remove the drywall or other saturated items that will need replacement. In general, this is a pretty standard water mitigation servicing – the source of water is clean and purified, so no disinfecting is required. If there’s any standing water, that will need to be soaked up to save your flooring or carpeting. From then on, the focus needs to be drying and dehumidifying the entire area to stay ahead of the development of a possible mold infestation, before taking care of any permanent repairs.

Look for the Signs, and Call Restoration 1 of Greater Minneapolis

There are four major signs that you need to be on the lookout for this winter. If you experience any of them, it could mean that you have an issue with a frozen pipe. The first is the most common one: the water is delayed in coming out of the faucet, comes out in very small amounts, or does not come out at all. Another sign is if you experience odd, inconsistent temperatures in your water. You should always examine your visible pipes. For example, if they have frost gathered on them under your sink, that could stand some looking into! Finally, you may experience peculiar smells coming out of your faucet or drain that’s indicative of pipes freezing.If you experience any of these things, or are faced with complicated, widespread water damage this upcoming cold season in Minnesota, do not worry. Simply call your local team of experts at Restoration 1 of Greater Minneapolis anytime, 24/7, at 612-200-2302 for fast, comprehensive emergency water damage servicing.

About The Author

David Tynes is the general manager of Restoration of Greater Minneapolis. David has years of experience in home and commercial restoration, and he is certified as a restoration professional by the IICRC.