Are We Really Safe from Jack Frost? Maybe not…

SERVPRO of South Worcester
explains how to keep your
house safe this winter.

Worcester, MA, February 21, 2012—Although New England has experienced relatively mild weather this season, it’s important to remember that winter is not over yet. In March of last year, a massive snowstorm barreled through the North East, extending the winter season longer than anyone had expected. After witnessing the disastrous effects of the storm last year, SERVPRO of South Worcester wants to make sure that you are prepared for whatever Mother Nature may throw our way.

When cold weather hits, it is critical that proper care be taken to ensure your pipes don’t freeze and burst. A frozen pipe can burst when the ice builds up inside the pipe, but it’s more commonly caused from the backflow pressure between the water source and the ice blockage.

There are a number of steps that can be taken to avoid having a pipe burst in your house. SERVPRO of South Worcester recommends you keep cabinet doors open during cold spells. This allows the warm air to circulate around the pipes. If there are pipes that run through unheated or uninsulated parts of your house, make sure to keep a slow trickle of water flowing through the faucets. You can also consider shutting off outdoor faucets that you won’t be using in the winter. If you choose to do so, first open the outdoor faucet to ensure that it is completely drained, then find the shut-off valve in your basement or crawl space and turn it off.

Another common winter weather disaster your house could experience is ice dams. Ice dams form when ice prevents melted snow from flowing into the gutter system, causing backflow under the roof’s shingles and into the structure’s interior areas.

“The easiest way to prevent ice dams from forming is to make sure that your gutters are clean and secure,” says Donny McKendall, owner of SERVPRO of South Worcester. “While the weather is nice, it’s a good idea to make sure that your gutters are clear and can provide an unobstructed water path. An accumulation of leaves and debris in your gutters greatly increases your chances of falling victim to ice dams.”

If you don’t take these precautions and steps to avoid frozen pipes and ice dams, you’re putting your house in risk of severe water damage. If you find yourself the victim of water damage, contact a professional immediately to mitigate your losses. SERVPRO of South Worcester is prepared with the knowledge and equipment to quickly return your home to it pre-damaged condition.

Founded in 1967, the SERVPRO franchise system is a national leader and provider of fire, water, mold and other specialty cleanup and restoration services. SERVPRO's professional services network of more than 1,600 individually owned and operated franchises responds to property damage emergencies ranging from small individual disasters to multi-million dollar large-loss situations. SERVPRO has recently mobilized its elite Storm Response Team to the 2011 North Dakota Floods, 2010 Tennessee Floods, the 2010 New England Floods, the 2009 California Wildfires and 2008 Hurricane Ike. Contact: www.serveprosouthworcester.com.