How do I know if I have a Frozen Pipe?

If you suspect that your pipe has frozen, there are a few steps to take. Frozen pipes can lead to extensive damage and major expenses if not promptly dealt with by a professional restoration company -  which is why they're so important! In order for our experts at 5 Star Restoration Specialists to remedy this problem quickly, we recommend homeowners follow these helpful tips as well as calling our emergency service number if you suspect frozen pipes. Keep an eye on outdoor faucets while home during cold weather conditions such as wind chill factor especially at night time. You may also notice telltale signs like icicles hanging from exterior spigots or clear appearance under buildings where frosty air meets ice cold surfaces due around structures when exposed.

If you turn on a pipe and no water comes out, or the pressure is low, find out where those pipes enter your house. If they're exposed outside to cold weather there is a good chance you have a frozen pipe. Make sure to call our emergency service number right away. We will guide you in the next steps such as shutting off the main water valve asap to avoid a rupture in the pipe. If the pipe is not exposed to the outside, check the visible area of the pipe to detect frost or bulging. Pay attention to any loud knocking or creaking noises at night as this may also be an indication of a frozen or freezing pipe.

Is a frozen pipe an emergency?

If you suspect you have a frozen pipe, experts say that this is an extremely dangerous situation at home. It can cause flooding, electrical damage and even fires. This damage will cost you more than the damaged items itself so it's important to take care of frozen pipes before they lead to a significant emergency.

Most pipes in our area come from the outside building and enter through your house in the basement. In most cases, you will find a pipe under the sink if it has been affected by freezing temperatures. Some water systems are not insulated properly which makes them vulnerable for freezing during cold winters. The frozen pipes may be already cracked or broken but you don't notice their condition until water stops flowing inside your house or the pipe ruptures and begins flooding. 

Frozen pipes may make noise during the coldest party of the night so be alert if you hear loud sounds coming from your basement or near sinks. You can also check whether your lights flicker or not which indicates damaged electrical wires from water due to frozen pipes. This issue should be handled with immediate attention since electrical wires exposed to water can cause major damage inside our house including fires. Please call 911 urgently if you have damaged electrical wires. 

Do not attempt to thaw out frozen water lines at home since this will lead to more floods and major damages. You should call a restoration professional from 5 Star Restoration Specialists at any time of the day or night and ask for frozen pipe repair service. Frozen pipe repair requires special skills and knowledge about frozen water lines in your house. It's also important to turn off the main water valve whenever possible.

Why Do Pipes Burst?

In our area, temperatures can drop suddenly and significantly. When this happens, it creates the potential for the water within your pipes to freeze. When this happens, the water expands to form ice, causing pressure on the pipe itself. Over time, it cannot handle the stress of the ice buildup and bursts. This creates a flow of water entering into your home. That’s because not all water in those pipes freezes and this allows for water to flow through the system out of the breached area.

As it sounds, this type of problem can create significant damage. Our team at 5 Star Restoration Specialists has seen frozen pipes in Lake County, Illinois cause significant damage for property owners. Most of the time, there is no way to prevent this from happening – you may not even realize it can occur. Yet, when it does, the sudden emergency situation can mean you need immediate help.

What to Do When Pipes Burst

When a pipe bursts in your home, the first step is to ensure you turn the water off. This may mean turning off the water at the source of where it enters your property – the water main. In other cases, you may need to call the water department for immediate help. They can tell you where the lines are and how to access them.

5 Star Restoration Specialists can help, too. Our team can arrive within 45 minutes to provide the emergency help you need. This includes turning the water off. We do not recommend that you handle the repair or cleanup yourself after this point, though. Our team is licensed to handle these difficult situations even when the weather is bad.

What Happens When 5 Star Restoration Specialists Handles Your Frozen Pipe Bursts?

When you have a frozen pipe burst, you have water damage in your home. Even if the amount of water damage is present is minimal, because there is moisture present, there is a safety risk to your home and your family. It is our job at 5 Star Restoration Specialists to get your home to the highest level of safety again. How do we do that?

After arriving at your home, our team will work to comprehensively clean up the entire situation. However, this requires first understanding the cause of the problem and then creating a plan to deal with it. Every situation is a bit difference, but we will work closely with you to best understand what your goals are and how to clean up your space. There are a variety of steps in the process. This may include:

Water Extraction

After arriving at your home, our team will find the source of the water damage. Sometimes, you may not see all of the damage from the frozen pipes. In other cases, you know where it is. We’ll work to stop the flow of water into your home. Then, we work to remove that water. In the winter months, water from frozen pipes tends to remain present instead of draining away easily. As a result of that, we need to extract the water using powerful suction tools. They are not dangerous to your home, and we will not cause damage to your home from it.

However, we will work to remove as much of the water in this manner as possible. It is the most efficient method for doing so in some situations. You may be tempted to handle this part yourself, but our team can offer a faster solution for drying out your home. Our professional grade tools and resources are highly effective at removing water damage quickly.

Drying out the home is important. Even in the middle of winter, there is the risk of mold damage occurring when water remains present. Removing all moisture, then, is our goal.

Removing Damaged Materials

In some situations, it is not good enough to simply remove the water. We need to go further. A key part of our job here is to remove all damaged materials from the space. All non-porous items that are wet tend to need to be tossed out. They cannot be cleaned well enough to make them safe in your home again. This is common for items like pillows, rugs, carpeting, and some areas of impacted drywall.

We remove anything we cannot properly clean. Our team handles that entire process – removing the items out of the home, packing them up, and transporting them to proper disposal areas. You don’t have to worry about getting your hands dirty!

Restoring Your Home

After frozen pipes burst, you may be left with a significant amount of repair work to do. For example, if the pipes burst in your basement, you may have damage to the drywall, the flooring, and other areas. We work to fix this.

Our job is to replace that drywall and finish up the restoration work to ensure your home looks brand new again. In many situations, there will be some plumbing work that needs to be done. We may also encourage you to take steps to prevent future damage to piping from freezing temperatures. For property owners who experience structural damage, our team works with you to ensure your property is back to being safe again. This includes working with structural engineers.

What About Mold?

Frozen pipes are pouring ice cold water into your home. This may not sound like the ideal place for mold to grow, but it can be. In many situations, mold will grow after water damage like this. While the water may be cold and the winter weather is present, your home isn’t likely to be very cold. It only takes a matter of hours for water damage to encourage mold growth to happen. And, many homes already have some level of mold growth present, which increases the chances that those mold spores will spread as the moisture levels rise.

Our team does our best to minimize any presence of mold in your home. This includes taking steps to cleanse all surfaces after water damage occurs. Yet, even in the best case, mold can happen. Many homes already have mold growth present, long before the frozen pipes occur. But, the frozen pipes can increase the chances of it flourishing.

When there is mold present, we need to take steps to clean it up. We offer full mold remediation services. You can count on us to provide you with exceptional service in this area. We handle the removal of the mold, cleanup of the area, prevention steps, as well as restoration work.

Will Insurance Cover Frozen Pipe Damage?

When frozen pipes burst, the damage can be significant. And, the water damage and restoration work can be extensive. Chances are good you will lose some of your belongings in such an event. But, home insurance may offer some help to you.

Most home insurance policies cover damage related to frozen pipes and water damage from them. This is because most frozen pipes cannot be prevented fully even with proper maintenance. However, if the damage is from normal wear and tear or poor maintenance, your insurance company may not cover the damage.

5 Star Restoration Specialists works with your home insurance company. We can provide your insurer with a quote for the work that needs done. And, once approved, we can get to work completing the restoration projects right away. We can bill your insurer as well. The key here is to call your insurance agent as soon as possible after frozen pipes occur. They may require photos of what happened before any restoration and cleanup occurs.

Can You Prevent Frozen and Burst Pipes?

In some situations, you can take steps to prevent frozen pipes from bursting. This may include keeping cabinets open to allow the heated air in your home to filter into this area. In addition, you may be able to install foam coverings for the pipes most at risk for freezing. These tend to be the pipes in the basement, for example. Even still, this can happen when pipes are close to the outdoor air temperatures. Try keeping these areas warm throughout the winter to minimize those risks.

Why Put 5 Star Restoration Specialists to Work for You

When you call 5 Star Restoration Specialists for frozen pipes, we go to work for you right away. Frozen pipes that burst can be dangerous to your home. Instead of trying to handle this work on your own, let our licensed and insured team to go to work for you. We provide water damage restoration and have done so reliably for 10 years. Ask us about our 45-minute emergency response time.