RVA Deep Freeze Hints

2/10/2016 (Permalink)

RVA: Look Out We Are Tracking Another Arctic Blast              

Another arctic blast is forecasted to blow into Central Virginia this weekend.

We hope these tips will help RVA homeowners and businesses weather the frigid tempatures instore for the area and reduce the chances of property damage during this latest cold snap.   

Inside the House

Keep your home or commercial building heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. The inside of walls (where the pipes are located) become much colder than the wall itself. Reducing the temperature to below 65 degrees may not protect the pipes located inside of walls from freezing.   

Identify the location for the main water shutoff. Know how it works in case you have shut water off to your home of business. 

Open hot and cold faucets enough to let them drip slowly. Keeping water moving within the pipes will help prevent freezing.

In your home watch fireplaces, wood stoves and electric heaters. Be sure they are working.  Close the flue when your are not using your fireplace.

While away from your home ask a neighbor to check the house regularly. Discovering potential issues, frozen pipes, or water damage quickly will reduce damages significantly. 

If your property will be vacant for an extended period of time, have the water system, including pool plumbing, drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting.

Outside the House

Keep sidewalks and entrances to your home free from snow and ice.

Watch for ice dams near gutter downspouts. Ice dams can cause water to build up and seep into your house. Clear gutters of leaves and debris to allow runoff from melting snow and ice to flow freely.

If you own a swimming pool and temperatures are expected to dip below freezing, run the pool pump at night to keep the water flowing through the pipes.

Make sure all hoses are disconnected from outside spigots.

If your garage is attached to your house, keep the garage doors closed. The door leading to the house is probably not as well-insulated as an exterior door.

If ice forms on tree limbs, watch for dead, damaged or dangerous branches that could break loose when stressed by ice, snow or wind and damage your house or car, or injure someone on or near your property.

If you discover that pipes are frozen, don’t wait for them to burst. Take measures to thaw them immediately, or call a plumber for assistance.

If your pipes burst, first turn off the water and then mop up spills to avoid further damage.

If your home or business suffers any type of water damage, the potential for secondary damages to your property is reduced when properly dried and repaired by a professional. Call SERVPRO of Chesterfield at 804.378.2323 as quickly as possible.