Winter’s effect is not limited to dry skin and chapped lips alone. Its icy fingers also reach for your plumbing system. Water damage from frozen pipes is an issue that homeowners often face as the year comes to an end. As many as 200,000 homes deal with frozen pipes each year and experience leaks and flooding.
The longer water damage remains in your home, the worse and more expensive it becomes. You can lose personal property such as furniture and clothing, and your flooring and walls may also suffer damage. We will guide you through the best way to handle this water damage and what signs to look out for.
How Do Frozen Pipes Cause Water Damage?
Pipes are designed to handle a constant flow of water. Freezing temperatures block that flow and solidify the water. When the water in a pipe freezes, it starts to create pressure within that pipe. The pipe then expands to compensate for the pressure. However, a pipe can only expand so much before it bursts or cracks.
A frozen pipe will burst if you don’t thaw it out early enough. Sometimes, there is only a small crack in the pipe and this causes a water leak. However, in most cases, the frozen pipe bursts and floods the home. This leak or flood is what causes water damage.
How to Handle Water Damage From Frozen Pipes
Sometimes, you are too late, and a frozen pipe bursts before you thaw it. The aftermath of water damage from frozen pipes can leave you dazed and confused. This is how to turn the situation around:
1. Ensure Your Safety
You should start by turning off the electricity in the water-damaged areas in your home. For example, let’s say the frozen pipe burst in your kitchen and the water spread to your living room. It is best to turn the electricity off in those two areas. This prevents electrocution and ensures both you and your family’s safety.
Your home’s electrical panel is usually a gray box in your basement. You may either turn off electricity to the entire house or for certain parts of your home. This depends on how far the water damage spreads. If you can’t turn the power off, unplug the electrical appliances in the area.
2. Stop the Flow of Water
The burst pipe may still be leaking even after you have contained the water. In this scenario, you need to turn off your main water supply. Most residential homes have a shut-off valve that you can turn clockwise to stop the water flow. You’ll likely find this valve in your yard, basement, or crawlspace.
3. Take an Inventory of Damaged Items
Organization is important when dealing with water damage from frozen pipes. An inventory of the damaged items will help you understand the severity of the damage. Additionally, it will form part of the evidence for your insurance claim and strengthen it.
To create this inventory, take note of all the areas of water damage. Then, go through each affected area to note down damaged items. For example, if the water spreads to your bedroom, you will likely have damaged clothes and fixtures. You should also take pictures and videos of these damaged items.
You should also note any damaged structural elements in your home. For instance, if the burst pipe caused your ceiling to leak, your ceiling may be damaged. You should add this to your inventory of damaged items.
4. Clean and Air Out Your Home
Before the restoration company comes around, you can clean and air out your home. Get rid of any standing water with mops or old rags. When water remains on your floor for an extended period, it can damage it. For instance, it can cause your flooring to soften and sag.
Cleaning your home doesn’t stop at drying your floors. You should also put any water-saturated items outside if you can move them. For example, if your chairs are soaked with water, you can put them in your yard to dry. The restoration company will let you know if it can be restored or not.
You should also air your home out by opening your windows to let air in. You may turn on the fans to circulate some air. However, air movers and industrial high-powered fans are the only fans capable of fully drying your home. This is where a restoration company comes in.
5. Call A Restoration Company
You should not attempt to fix water damage yourself. Instead, call a reputable restoration company for some help. It is best if they offer emergency restoration services. Discuss the situation with them and agree on a quote. They will assess your home and get to work immediately after you agree on a price and contract.
The restoration company will mitigate any further damage before starting the drying and dehumidification process. Dehumidification is what prevents mold and mildew growth. They will also sanitize your home to get rid of harmful chemicals and reconstruct structural water damage.
6. File a Water Damage Insurance Claim
It is key to file your insurance claim as soon as possible. Doing so can expedite the claims process because your insurer will begin working on it quickly. Put a call through to your insurer to report the damage. While speaking with them, ask questions about the claims process and how to access the claims form.
After the call, fill out the claims form according to your insurer’s instructions. Submit the claims form through the appropriate channel. For example, your insurer may ask you to mail the form to them or submit it on their website. Your insurance company cannot begin processing your claim until you submit this form.
7. Hire a Public Adjuster
You should contact a public adjuster immediately after filing your insurance claim. Insurance companies often claim that water damage from frozen pipes was from a pre-existing issue. They then deny claims based on this line of reasoning. Therefore, you should hire a public adjuster to help you avoid tricky issues with your claim.
Additionally, a public adjuster can help you negotiate your settlement. Rather than settling for whatever your insurer offers, you can enlist a public adjuster’s help. The adjuster will reevaluate the water damage and gather repair estimates. They will then use this information to increase your settlement.
8. Restore Your Home
The water damage restoration process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a month. This depends on how extensive the damage is and whether or not there is mold growth. Nevertheless, the restoration company will get your home looking better than it did before the water damage.
What Are the Signs of Water Damage from Frozen Pipes?
Here are some signs you should look out for if you suspect water damage from frozen pipes:
Water Stains
While you may see exposed pipes outside your home and in your basement, most of the pipes are likely in your walls. If you notice strange colored stains on your walls or floors, a frozen pipe has likely burst in your home.
Peeling Paint
Water damage from frozen pipes causes paint to flake and peel off. Look out for cracked and peeling paint on your walls. The paint may also bubble. This means that it’ll slightly swell in some places. This is also a sign of water damage.
Mold
Mold starts to grow in about 24 hours after water damage. Therefore, if you notice mold growth, no matter how little, it may signify water damage from frozen pipes. This is especially so if the mold is on your walls, floors, or basement.
Unexplained Musty Odors
If you have tried air fresheners and dehumidifiers but your home still smells musty, you may have water damage. This is because water damage causes mold and mildew. Both mold and mildew have a musty and dank odor.
Conclusion
Water damage from frozen pipes can cause thousands of dollars in loss if not handled quickly. While you should leave the heavy restoration to professionals, you can do other things to ease the process. Clean up standing water and don’t keep water-saturated items inside your home.
File a water damage claim as soon as you can to get reimbursement for restoration costs. Additionally, look out for signs of water damage such as peeling paint and musty odors. Recognizing these signs can help you treat water damage before it spreads to your entire home.
A seasoned public adjuster can get you the insurance settlement of your dreams. They will negotiate with your insurer, ensuring your settlement covers the restoration of your home. On-Site Adjusting is the public adjuster you need to handle your case with the attention and expertise it deserves. Reach out to us today!
