The Effect of Cold Snaps on Gaithersburg Homes

12/24/2021 (Permalink)

Take heed and prevent frozen pipes early on in the season. Contact SERVPRO for both prevention methods and water removal services.

Preventative care can help to avoid costly water damage to Gaithersburg properties this winter.

The winter months can welcome threatening conditions like steep temperature drops and heavy snowfall. When areas of your property become threatened by these conditions, our SERVPRO professionals can help with fast mitigation and reliable cleanup.

Flooding in the Attic

Between frozen pipes and ice damming for Gaithersburg homes, there are many ways properties can be damaged by harsh winter conditions. Attic flooding can often result from ice damming on the roof that ultimately forces water under the shingles and back through the roof to the attic space below.

Can Damming Be Prevented?

A few possible steps to avoiding ice damming can be implemented both in and outside the home. These include:

• Better Insulation
• Heated Cable Installation
• Clean Gutters and Downspouts
• Ice Prevention Barrier Materials

Pipe Damage and Rupturing

Another possible damage situation homes could experience freezing pipes. Ice blockages in the line build pressure, which can rupture or break water service lines in the house under the right conditions.

How Do Pipes Get Thawed?

A frozen pipe does not always spell disaster for your home, however. There are circumstances where it is possible to thaw the affected plumbing before pressures build to the point of a rupture or split. Using a hairdryer on the affected area, you can warm the pipe to melt a blockage while running the cold water from an attached faucet when possible.

SERVPRO is Here to Help

When disasters strike, you want to make sure you have experienced professionals working fast to return the property to preloss condition. With situations like flooding or burst pipes, we must prioritize removing standing water to prevent greater harm to the rest of the house. Some of the tools used in this process include:

• Electric Submersible Pumps
• Wet Vacuums
• Truck-Mount Extractors

The winter season can be a wonderful time, but it can also harbor conditions that produce the worst disasters that many homes will see. When harsh conditions impact your property through burst pipes or damaged roofs, our SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown team can help you. Call us today at (301) 963-8474.