24/7 Emergency Service
Protecting & Preventing a Pipe Freeze in your Atlanta Home
2/22/2021 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of South Atlanta is here 24-hrs a day to help your Atlanta home or business recover after storm damage and pipe freezes.
In recent weeks, Texas has shown us what can happen to homes and businesses when freeze events and power outages strike areas not accustomed to subzero temperatures. Without electrical power many homes and businesses were at the mercy of the elements and suffered major damage due to snow, ice, and pipes freezing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Texas facing this adversity and the community responders that are working to restore electricity and heat to thousands of homes and businesses throughout the South that are struggling during the polar vortex.
SERVPRO has mobilized hundreds of restoration specialists to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana areas to help these states recover from this once in a lifetime freeze event. Our highly trained professionals are equipped to quickly and safely take on any size restoration project and have the backing and support of over 1,700 SERVPRO franchises nationwide. SERVPRO water restoration specialists are accustomed to these types of “storm events”. SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Teams have traveled from state-to-state restoring customer’s properties for decades and have all the training and practical experience to return any type of storm damaged property to its preloss condition.
What’s Going on with Winter Storm Uri?
How many people were affected by Uri?
- Winter Storm Uri is an extreme cold weather event brought on by changes in the polar vortex. Over 170 million Americans were affected, ranging from the Pacific Northwest all the way to the Southern and East coasts. In Texas alone, 5 million Texans experienced power outages or blackouts for several days.
What is a “Polar Vortex”?
- When you hear the term polar vortex you probably can gather that it means cold weather is imminent. A polar vortex (as it relates to the United States) is basically a cold front of Arctic air that is pushed south by the jet stream. This can bring frigid subzero temperatures to areas of the US that typically don’t experience such extreme cold. The National Weather Service defines a polar vortex as, “an area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles...The term "vortex" refers to the counterclockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles.”
What happens when your home’s pipes freeze?
- A frozen pipe can burst at the point where the ice blockage inside the pipe is located, but typically the rupture is caused by the backflow pressure between the water source and the blockage. A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed quickly. SERVPRO of South Atlanta professionals are faster to any size disaster, bringing the latest equipment and training to help make your water damage “Like it never even happened.”
What is an “ice dam”?
- Ice dams can be a major problem during the winter season. They form when heated air melts roof snow downward into water dammed behind still-frozen ice. When the trapped water cannot safely flow or run into the gutter system, it can backflow under the roof’s shingles and into the structure’s interior areas. SERVPRO of South Atlanta professionals can help mitigate water damage caused by ice dams and help you get your structure back to preloss condition.
Tips for Preparing Your Home for Winter Weather
- Allow warm air to circulate around pipes by keeping cabinet doors open during cold spells.
- Allow faucets to slowly trickle water, especially if the pipes for faucets run through unheated or uninsulated areas of your home.
- Consider shutting off outdoor faucets. Find the shut-off valve in the basement or crawl space and turn it to “off .”
- If you follow the previous step, then open the outdoor faucet to help ensure it drains completely and the inner valve is shut off.
- Regular maintenance and cleaning of your furnace can help reduce the risk of puff-backs.
- Make sure that your gutters are clean and secure. Debris and leaves can accumulate, causing a damming effect on gutters. This often leads to roof problems and water damage.
Storm Restoration Client Testimonials
Matt B. of Atlanta, GA - “SERVPRO of South Atlanta is a great restoration company. Easy to work with and flexible. They were prompt, professional and on time (even called ahead of appointments). I recommended them to a friend for a water damage situation and they did a great job drying out her property. I highly recommend SERVPRO of South Atlanta.”
Anne J. of Atlanta, GA - “Great weekend response time. A very friendly knowledgeable technician arrived within an hour on a Saturday afternoon and took care of everything! I highly recommend this company”
Diane C. of Atlanta, GA - “I want to thank Trevon and Juyuan for their professionalism as they attended to our storm related water damage issue. They identified what needed to be fixed and how, clarified next steps, and educated us on the different options. They both updated us throughout the process and answered all of our questions. And thank you for your quick response to our needs.”
Steven B. of Atlanta, GA - “These guys did a great job cleaning up my house! We had a big storm cause some flooding in my kitchen and garage. SERVPRO showed up quickly, explained their procedures, and cleaned up the mess in no time. Highly recommended!”
More Customer Testimonials & Reviews
*If you enjoyed this blog or would like to read more blogs like this one check out some of our other Storm Restoration Blogs and Before & After Photos: ”Pay Attention to Atlanta Storm Warnings”; “What To Do If Your Atlanta Home Experiences a Flash Flood”; “Preferred Service Providers for Storm Restoration Professionals in Atlanta”; “SERVPRO of South Atlanta Can Help You Recover After Storm Damage”; “Atlanta Home Roof Damage Tarping Service”