What Is the Best Way to Manage Frozen Pipes and Ice Damming Issues in Newington Homes?

12/5/2021 (Permalink)

When ice damming affects your property, quick action is necessary. Contact SERVPRO to assess the situation and formulate a remediation plan. Call now.

SERVPRO Can Help Manage Your Storm-Damaged Property Preventing Freezing Issues

Frozen pipes and ice damming may not be an issue when your property is intact. The pipes inside your house are not likely to freeze unless installed in unheated areas such as crawlspaces, kitchen cabinets, and garages. However, after a storm, other areas may be vulnerable too.

Frozen pipes and ice damming damage in your Newington home can worsen what the storm has already done. Water expands when frozen, putting immense pressure on what contains it. So metal and plastic pipes tend to burst when freezing occurs. Storms can shatter windows, blow off some shingles or create other openings which allow cold air to reach unwanted areas in your house, thus causing freezing in pipes. SERVPRO helps manage storm-damaged property preventing such outcomes.

Some actions that can help combat frozen pipe damage include:

• Boarding up openings
• Heating uninsulated spaces with portable heaters
• Managed thawing of frozen pipes

Unlike pipe freezing, ice dams develop outside the structure. Normally, ice dams take time to develop since sufficient snow must accumulate along the eaves. However, during a snowstorm, the accumulation rate is faster. The ice dam causes water to back up  (from the snow thaw) and intrude into the house. 

Other issues caused by ice dams include:

• Torn gutters
• Loose shingles
• Water damage, including peeling paint and warping

Safe removal of ice dams helps prevent unnecessary damages to the structure. SERVPRO can provide the resources you need for such removal. For instance, instead of hacking away the accumulated ice with chisels or using salt, which can be detrimental to various materials, our IICRC-certified technicians use safer alternatives such as directing cold air under the roof with a box fan. The approach causes freezing of any water leaking into the house. We can also help implement other steps that help insulate the ceiling space, ensuring no heat reaches the bottom of the roof.

SERVPRO of Newington / Central Hartford can help you deal with any cases of frozen pipes and ice damming damage. Call us at (860) 667-9191. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.