Avoid a Flood This Winter! Three Quick Tips…

3. December 2008 by Dean of Clean.

Hi! Richard Carpenter here again, and this is the time of year that we start to see water damage jobs from frozen pipes. So before it gets icy cold outside, here are some quick tips to stay warm, cozy and DRY this winter!

1 - Check all your outside water faucets, and disconnect the hoses. Even so-called “Freezeless” faucets WILL freeze and break if the hose is left connected with water in it…and they’ll break inside the wall, draining into the house instead of outside!

2 - Check your washing machine hoses. Broken washer hoses are the most common water damage we see. The hoses are good for maybe five years, whereas the washer lasts 10-20. But it’s easy to forget about the hoses…until you wake up one night to water around the bed! Check the hoses every year, and if they show signs of wear, replace them at once - they only cost about $5-$10 at Kroeger’s or your local hardware store.

3 - Water heaters are the second most common break we see, so check the drain valves on them from time to time, as well as pipes going into them, and make sure that the surrounding area doesn’t freeze. Seems like most of the bad ones we see are at about 12-15 years old.

Finally, there are devices you can install on your waterline to sense a sudden surge in flow, and shut off the water until you determine the cause of the leak. Check with your local hardware store; if they don’t stock it they should be able to order it.

And, if (god forbid) you DO wake up in a puddle one morning, call UltraSteam at 385-8444 for quick response, structural drying and cleanup by IICRC Certified Water Damage experts with over 40 years of experience!

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