A consultant of a Houston plumbing firm says after Tuesday’s snowfall and in a single day laborious freeze, it obtained quite a few calls from residents who wanted assist with repairs.
Water pipes, sprinkler techniques and hose bibs have been the primary culprits for many who didn’t correctly cowl or winterize them forward of the frigid temperatures.
Chilly climate can wreak havoc on properties, resulting in frozen pipes. They will crack, burst and price owners a whole bunch to 1000’s of {dollars} to restore.
“Should you wakened (Wednesday) morning with frozen pipes, there’s a probability that you’ve got a cracked pipe,” mentioned Joe Bany, the director of discipline operations for John Moore Providers.
RELATED: Houston to see hotter climate heading into weekend after uncommon winter storm
He advises Houston-area residents with frozen pipes to depart the taps open. This enables the chance for water to have a spot to flee because it unfreezes. Bany mentioned turning off the water provide to the home till correctly investigating the origin of the issue additionally is an efficient rule of thumb.
“While you flip off the water to the home, you relieve the stress to the house,” Bany mentioned. “If the ice thaws, it runs the way in which it ought to and you are not overfilling in a damaged location.”
Bany emphasised the significance of winterization and getting ready properties for freezing climate. Previous to winter storms, it’s necessary for owners to cowl their outside pipes, he mentioned.
Pipes which might be galvanized, copper or CPVC might not supply the identical flexibility as newer pipes which might be getting used to construct new properties, based on Bany, who mentioned these pipes are susceptible to breaking, harboring a inflexible construction.
RELATED: Houston first responders discover two folks lifeless in aftermath of winter storm
“When you have these merchandise in there, when it expands the ice actually does not have anyplace to go, so it breaks the pipe,” Bany mentioned.
Bany mentioned owners ought to think about PEX piping, which is versatile and expands beneath stress, making it much less prone to burst throughout freezing situations.
Insulation within the attic can also be essential for shielding pipes, he mentioned.
“Ideally in Houston, we should always have 15-16 inches of insulation,” Bany mentioned. “That’s the optimum top of insulation within the attic. That may defend the entire pipes within the attic.”
