The Chicago area is facing record-breaking cold this week. As the temperatures drop and wind chill rises, it’s important to know how to protect your home from damage. The extreme cold can cause several problems in your home, like burst pipes and flooded basements. The best way to prevent this is to be prepared ahead of time.
Prevent pipes from freezing
One great way to prevent burst pipes is by leaving water running. Normally, we wouldn’t suggest this since it could raise your water bill and wastes water. But ultimately it could save you time, energy, and money since it helps prevent pipes from freezing. The trickle of water will keep the water moving through the pipes. This stops the water from building up and then freezing in the pipes. As it freezes, the water expands and pipes burst, causing extreme cold damage. When you keep the water moving through your pipes, you’ll prevent it from freezing and be safer from burst pipes.
Other things you can do to prevent pipes bursting include insulating outdoor and exposed water pipes, seal any cracks or gaps in pipes that could bring in extra cold, and disconnect and drain outdoor water hoses.
Keep HVAC running
Keeping the air conditioning running in the winter might seem counter productive, but it is more helpful than you might think. Running the air conditioner will help dehumidify your house. How is this essential? Well, in the extreme cold, moisture gathers inside your house. This moisture comes from the heating as well as condensation from people living in the home. The moisture can gather on your windows and turn to ice, causing many problems. The air conditioner prevents this and other extreme cold damage.
What if it’s too late?
If the cold air has already gotten to your home, there are some important steps you should take. First, if a pipe has burst or you have flooding in your home, call a professional immediately. The results of flooding and burst pipes can be disastrous. Without the proper care, the flooding can lead to mold, which can be very harmful to your health. You might not think of extreme cold damage in terms of flooding, but if pipes leak or burst, standing water can quickly build up in your home. Crawl spaces are especially susceptible to this, since there is typically less insulation in those areas.
ProCare Restoration specializes in restoration services for flooding and mold. If you have water standing in any area of your home, call us. Our 24/7 emergency services mean we’re always available and ready to help. The first 24 hours are essential for saving your floors from flooding, so don’t delay in calling for help.
