Utah Flood Cleanup Blog

Leaks are common. Still, it’s usually startling to discover a water leak somewhere in your home. That’s understandable because common water leaks in houses are often responsible for extensive property damage that is very costly to repair. The good news is that you can prevent the most typical leaks by periodically inspecting the places where leaks are most frequent. Use the list below, provided by Utah Flood Cleanup, to conduct routine checks of areas in your home where a leak is most likely to happen.

As the time comes to say goodbye to summer and usher in autumn, it’s important to be aware of how the weather can directly impact your home. One important fact you should know is that during the fall and winter months, your home can be at risk for water-related damage. Usually, this damage is caused by a leaking pipe or one that bursts due to the temperature changes. Not only is an incident like this not very fun, but it can result in thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to your home. Thankfully, you still have some time to prevent water damage before the cooler weather ushers in.

Here are five tips you might find helpful to prevent water damage:

Check Gutters and Downspouts

The purpose of your gutter system is to channel water from rainstorms away from your home, so it doesn’t back up and cause water damage to the foundation of the house. To prevent clogged gutters, make sure you’re keeping your curb and storm drains free of leaves and other debris. It's important that water can flow easily away from your home.

Quick Tip: You can easily clean your gutters with a Wet/Dry Vacuum to streamline the process.

Insulate Your Home’s Water Pipes

Utah is known for its chilly fall season and even colder winters, so it’s important you keep your water pipes insulated to avoid cracking or even worse—a burst pipe. One way to insulate your water pipes is using foam rubber insulation to avoid them freezing up during the winter. These are easy to install and just involve you cutting the foam rubber to fit the pipes and peeling away the adhesive to make it stick.

We also recommend locating your "stop tap" just in case your pipe bursts and you need to shut off the water quickly in order to eliminate additional water damage to the home.

Disconnect Your Garden Hose

Since you most likely will not be gardening during the winter months, it's important to disconnect your hose to avoid any water freezing within it. This will also prevent any water backup freezing into the pipes that lead into the house from the garden faucet.  We suggest wrapping it up and storing it in the shed until spring to avoid any damage.

Keep Your Furnace On

Whatever you do, don't turn off your furnace during the winter; you will be putting your pipes at risk for freezing. We recommend keeping your furnace set to at least 55 degrees at all times. If you aren't going to be home for an extended period, turn off your water and drain your lines.

Don't Forget Other Areas of Your Home

While it's important to check your pipes, we also suggest checking out the caulking in your showers and sinks, as well as the intake valves for your washer and dryer to ensure there is no damage. You rather be safe than sorry.

Utah Flood Cleanup

If you're looking to be 100% sure that your pipes are properly insulated for fall, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our experts at Utah Flood Cleanup are simply a phone call away!

If you're one of the lucky ones and have never experienced a burst pipe, then count your blessings! Pipe bursting can cause a lot of water damage, so it's important to know what to do if it happens. Here are some tips on how to deal with a burst pipe.

Steps To Take Immediately After a Water Pipe Bursts

Pipe bursting is a common occurrence, as roughly fifty million homeowners experience a burst pipe every year. One of the significant issues that burst pipes bring is that a 1/8 inch crack can easily lead to over 250 gallons of water flooding your home daily if left untreated. However, with each flood situation being different, each requires a unique solution.

Considering the collateral water damage that a burst pipe has to offer, it's crucial to take action once a piping problem occurs. Here's a step-by-step guide for halting damage from a burst pipe:

Turn Off Your Main Water Supply 

This is the first and most crucial step in avoiding further water damage to your home. Shutting down your main water supply stops all water throughout the home and makes it easier to repair the burst pipe. In some cases, you may have to turn off your main power switch if the leak is happening near an electrical source.

Turn Off Valves

If the burst pipe routes from a hot water tank, close off the hot water valve to avoid water loss and possible injury.

If The Pipe Is Frozen

If the pipe happens to be frozen, don't let it thaw.

Once The Water Is Shut Down

Call a professional immediately once you shut off the water. This avoids further damage to your piping and property.

Take Inventory

Take inventory of the damaged property from the burst pipe. Once this is accumulated, contact your insurance provider.

Signs You May Be At Risk of A Pipe Bursting

There are various causes of pipes bursting, but there are a few very common problems that lead to that kind of plumbing emergency. Most instances of pipes bursting do not occur suddenly without warning. So, monitor your home’s plumbing lines throughout the year, and especially keep an eye out for the most frequent risk conditions. Why do pipes burst?

Water Freezing in Pipes Can Cause Them To Burst. 

Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When frozen water is in a pipe, it causes the pipe to contract, and the pipe can burst from the water pressure building in it. Even indoor plumbing lines may not be protected well enough from the risk of this situation. 

Unburied Outdoor Pipes in Freezing Temperatures Without Heat Tape Are at Risk.

Or, if indoor pipes run along a poorly insulated exterior wall, they are vulnerable to freezing and bursting. But, if external sections of pipes are wrapped and internal lengths run through a warm wall or basement space with effective insulation, they’re likely not at risk of freezing.

If Your Pipe Is Already Frozen, You Need To Act Quickly. 

One way to detect a frozen pipe is to turn on the faucet and see if the water is running. If no water comes out of the faucet, first check other faucets. Then, inspect for a leak or burst pipe along the water lines from the faucets to the main water pipe coming into your home.

Pipes Exposed To Extreme Heat Are Also at Risk of Bursting. 

Severe summer temperatures outdoors or in high-heat utility areas with heavy use of water can cause weak pipes to burst. Routinely inspect, maintain, and reinforce water lines.

Clogs in Plumbing Lines Can Cause Them To Burst.

 A clog blocks the flow of water and its release from the pipe. This can quickly lead to a buildup of excessive pressure. When the pressure becomes too high, the pipe can burst. 

Corrosion in or on Pipes Can Cause Them To Burst. 

Pipes can become corroded due to rust, excessive calcium in the water, or oxidation. Over time, corrosion weakens the integrity of the pipe walls and can cause them to burst.

Movement of a Pipe Can Lead To It Bursting. 

When temperatures around pipes change from cold to hot, the contracting and thawing lines may shift a little. Or, a pipe may become displaced a bit from being bumped during other pipe repairs, or shaken by extreme water pressure from large volumes of water running through it. If the shifting increases the pressure or jars a fitting loose, a breach can occur.

How To Avoid Burst Pipes in Your Home

A pipe burst can cause property damage, and wastewater contamination, and leave you with a shocking water bill. So, it pays to pay attention to your plumbing system throughout the year. Even in plunging winter temperatures, you can take steps to keep your plumbing pipes from freezing and bursting. Here are some easy steps you can take to prevent pipe bursts:

• Seal air leaks that allow cold air to enter your home where plumbing lines are located.
• Keep interior pipes warm by controlling the air temperature where the pipes are located.
• Leave cabinet doors open under sinks on exterior walls to let warm air flow to pipes.
• Keep faucets running a little to keep the pipes from freezing during low temperatures.
• Keep exposed exterior plumbing lines warm in winter by wrapping them with heat tape.
• Disconnect your garden hose from the outside faucet to drain water from the hose bib and prevent it from freezing and breaking.
• Have a Utah Flood Cleanup expert or other licensed plumber inspect your water pipes.

Water Pipe Burst Facts

Since a burst pipe isn't a rare situation for homeowners, there are a few facts for consideration regarding such issues. Such burst pipe facts are:

• Almost thirty-seven percent of all frozen burst pipes take place in the home's basement.
• Frozen pipes are known to be a risk for homeowners in regards to property damage once the temperature drops.
• Pipe insulation normally costs fifty cents per foot at a hardware store. However, a burst pipe without insulation can cost at least five thousand dollars for repair.
• A thirty-two-degree temperature is a freezing point for water. For safety reasons, your home should stay above this temperature.

Why Call Utah Flood Cleanup to Handle Water Damage from a Bursted Pipe in Home?

Provided the information above, a burst pipe brings a lot of trauma to a household. However, Utah Flood Cleanup is here to handle any water, flood, smoke, or fire situations that may have found their way to your home. Such services Utah Flood Cleanup offers are:

• Inspection & Water Damage Assessment - Inspecting the burst pipe, assessing the water damage from the burst pipe,
• Water Removal & Extraction - Removing the excess water caused by the burst pipe.
• Drying & Dehumidification - Drying and dehumidifying the area affected by the burst pipe.
• Cleaning & Sanitizing - Cleaning the damage and sanitizing the area caused by the burst pipe.
• Restoration - Restoring the water-damaged property.

If a Pipe Bursts in Your Home, Call Utah Flood Cleanup!

We’re your local experts in water damage repair and restoration. We quickly repair and restore your home to its condition prior to flooding. We provide Utah’s most efficient damage repair and restoration, so you can go back to enjoying your home again. We also provide expert mold abatement, often necessary after flooding in homes.

For pipe burst, interior flooding, leak repairs, or damage restoration, call us at Utah Flood Cleanup at (801) 416-2666 or contact us here on our website to schedule.