Winter Storm Preparedness in Cass County

6/20/2018 (Permalink)

Winter in Michigan can be pretty unpredictable.  Like the old saying goes:

“If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.”

The National Severe Storms Laboratory categorizes a winter storm as having snow, sleet, or freezing rain.  In Michigan, we can see any of this type of precipitation.  When the temperature is below and precipitation is in the forecast, that’s when our office knows what types of calls we’ll be getting: water damages.

How Water Pipes Freeze and Break

Water damage during a winter storm happens when your pipes freeze.  When water freezes, it expands and creates pressure inside the pipe, which can cause it to break.  The pipes that are most likely to freeze are those outside the home that are exposed.  Other vulnerable pipes are those indoors that don’t have access to heat, like those under your kitchen cabinets or in the garage.

Indoor Frozen Pipe Prevention

• Before temperatures reach freezing, insulate exposed and vulnerable pipes. You can do this by installing pipe sleeves or even wrapping the pipes with newspaper.
• Close the garage door to prevent cold air from coming in.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
• Keep your home heated above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Call SERVPRO of Cass and St. Joseph Counties at (269) 273-8777 for your water restoration needs!  We make water damage “Like it never even happened.”