SERVPRO of Howell/Wall Helping to  Keep Your Commercial Pipes from Bursting

12/9/2019 (Permalink)

Here are some tips to help prevent pipes from bursting

Frozen water pipes in your business can be a costly and damaging incident that can be prevented with some vigilance and preventative measures. So together, let’s make sure your businesses are as safe as possible this winter by providing you of some popular tricks to keep your water flowing freely and your pipes safe and sound.

As many of you know, when water freezes it expands. When extreme temps take hold of New Jersey, water can turn to ice can expand so much that the ice breaks through the pipes causing significant damage to your commercial property.

Places in your business like crawl spaces, attics, garages and similar area that are more exposed to the outside temperature without insulation are the most prone to bursting pipes. So for these areas, it is important to drain the supply lines or remove the hoses that are commonly left in the cold.  It is good practice to speak to plumber about having insulation, or perhaps a pipe-sleeve, added to trouble areas. Keep the garage door closed if water supply lines are inside.

If your business closes for the holidays, take extra care so that pipes do not burst when no one will know for an extended period of time. No one wants to return from a vacation and see water all over the floor or running water trickling to a standstill.  Here are some way to prevent that from happening. It is highly recommended to keep your thermostat no lower than 55 while away from your business. Some experts will say even while there and not closed for vacation to keep the same temperature at night as you do during the day. We will leave that to your discretion as it could result in a higher than normal heating bill but possibly prevent a high repair charge.

If you suspect a pipe is frozen but not broken, it is possible to thaw the pipe and resume regular use. One way to tell that a pipe is frozen is water trickling from a faucet when it would normally flow fast and free. If you can locate a section you believe to be frozen, apply a heating pad or hair dryer while keeping the faucet open. If the water begins to run after some time warming, you found the frozen section!  If you are uncomfortable dealing with possible frozen pipes, call a plumber and have an expert do the work. You can also ask for quotes on proper insulation for your pipes so they don’t freeze again in the future.

Enjoy your holidays with a peace of mind that your pipes are safe! If disaster strikes, SERVPRO of Howell / Wall is there to help! Call us at (732) 577-1010, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.