St. Clair Shores has Preventive Strategies to Avoid Frozen Pipes that Cause Water Damage

When cold weather interrupts your holiday prep or festivities with frozen pipes, ice dams, and subsequent flooding, rely on St. Clair Shores for accredited, full-service, quick-to-arrive restoration. As a Locally Owned and Operated company, we are vividly aware of Michigan’s capricious storms and temperature drops. If the worst case becomes reality, call our St. Clair Shores team at 586-741-5050. Emergency services are on call whenever water and its contaminants can endanger your home (including the belongings): 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. We have ample resources, dedication to our neighbors in and around Roseville, and access to National Disaster Recovery Teams, so no job is too big or too small. Regardless of the extent of the damage, the spread of the disaster, or the time that you call, our teams are Here to Help® restore your property from burst pipes.

When a frozen pipe bursts, it can cause massive damage to your home. First, the water will explode through drywall or other surface material. Second, the water will immediately start disintegrating your property, and because it runs to the lowest points and can be absorbed upward into wood, upholstery, and other porous materials, it hides in unexpected places where it continues to cause further damage. Third, water carries existing contaminants, such as pet hair, sewage, or debris, and it promotes the development of microbial growth such as mold. St Clair Shores has the training, experience, and specialized equipment needed to handle all these problems and more. Count on us for the full range of cleaning and restoration services, including construction, disinfection, rebuilding, and repairs.

When temperatures dip below freezing, the water in your pipes can freeze. Ice can build up within the pipe, applying pressure, which leaves it vulnerable to bursting.

Both the ground and the pipes need to be frozen for this worst-case scenario to apply, but they aren’t extreme; they happen often enough that our team members have extensive experience working to make the damage “Like it never even happened.”

Tips for Prevention

1. If you have an attached garage, keep the garage shut to keep the temperature inside the garage from freezing. As a bonus, that will decrease the amount of cold air making it way into your house.
2. Open any cabinet doors that cover the pipes to sinks, toilets, other water sources. The open doors allow the warmed air to reach the exposed pipes, so they don’t freeze.
3. Maintain a constant temperature. While you save money on utility bills by lowering the temperature at night, you will spend far more if you are forced to pay for emergency repairs after a pipe burst.
4. Add insulation! Keep your attic, basement, and crawl spaces warm during the winter by ensuring that they are well insulated. Many roofing companies and other industries do free inspections. Without proper maintenance, insulation can start to degrade within 15 years.
5. Remove hoses. You aren’t going to be washing your car and watering the garden during December, anyway, so remove the hoses during the winter months. Shut off the water to the outdoor pipes, but leave them open, so the water will run out the pipes.

From St Clair Shores to You: Have a Great Holiday Season!

St. Clair Shores is Always on Call at 586-741-5050

St. Clair Shores

586-741-5050