How to Deal With Frozen Pipes in Winter Weather | SERVPRO of Bloomington

1/11/2024 (Permalink)

Frozen pipes? Call SERVPRO of Bloomington

At SERVPRO of Bloomington, we often see an increase in water losses during the winter. A major culprit of these losses are frozen pipes. 

When the water inside the pipes freeze, its molecules expand, which causes a blockage of ice that prevents unfrozen water from passing through. When the frozen pipe begins to thaw, the pressure from the water can cause the pipe to burst. 

How Can I Tell My Pipes Are Frozen? 

One of the most common signs that you are dealing with frozen pipes is when you turn on your faucet and no water comes out (similarly, if you flush your toilet and it doesn’t refill). If this happens, you should check your water source to make sure it’s still turned on and that a leak isn’t occurring. 

Another tell-tale sign of frozen pipes is when your water line is coated in frost or is bulging.

If you know that your pipes are frozen, you can either choose to address the issue yourself or call in professionals. 

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes cause an estimated $400-$500 million in damage annually. To avoid adding to that total, there are several steps you can take.

When the weather gets cold, you should drain water from pipes that are likely to freeze, such as sprinkler and swimming pool water supply lines. Outside hoses should also be disconnected and drained, and indoor valves supplying these access points must be closed.

On frigid days, let your faucets drip cold water. Having the water drip out will make it harder for the water in the pipes to freeze. Your thermostat should also be kept around the same temperature at all times, and your house temperature should never fall below 55 degrees. Garage doors should also be kept shut to protect water lines. 

If you are worried about your pipes freezing, you can also place a 60-watt bulb in the areas you’re concerned with. Just make sure none of the materials near the bulb are combustible. 

What If My Pipes Are Already Frozen? 

If you realize your pipes have frozen, the first step is to keep your faucet open. This will help with thawing and allow for moving water to flow through the pipe. 

You can also apply heat to the specific area of the pipe that is frozen. You can do this by wrapping an electronic heating pad around the pipe or heating the area with a hair dryer. Using towels soaked in hot water can help, too. 

Keep applying heat until water flow returns to normal. After the pipe has been thawed, turn on other faucets around the house to make sure you don’t have any more frozen pipes. 

If the pipe is inside an exterior wall, you should immediately call a professional contractor. It is likely that a hole will need to be cut in the wall toward the inside of the house to allow the pipes to be exposed to warmer air. 

Frozen pipes can be a catastrophic problem for your home, but taking proactive measures can help you address the problem before it even starts.

Storms in the Bloomington, IN Area

8/27/2022 (Permalink)

Whether you own your own home or run your own business, one common fear is storm damage.  Will the storm hit our area?  How bad will the winds get?  What kind of damage may come from this one?  When the storm does hit, one answer:  Call SERVPRO of Bloomington, IN, we service all of Monroe, Lawrence, Owen, Green and Martin Counties in Indiana for any and all of your storm damage needs.

We provide our local area with emergency services and have teams on standby 24/7.  These skilled professionals will come out, assess the damages, put in a plan and even set up containment so that no further damages occur.  

Once a crew has arrived they will begin water mitigation to rid the standing water and debris, and start the process of drying out the affected areas. We have a reconstruction team as well to make sure your home goes back to the way you remember it before the storm hit.  We are available around the clock any time you need us at 812-824-2027.

SERVPRO of Bloomington. Your leader in commercial and residential storm damage restoration. We make fire and water cleanup and restoration, "Like it never even happened."

Summertime Storms in Bloomington Can Cause Chaos

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Storms can leave a trail of destruction anywhere they may hit.  For example, there can be downed power lines, hail damage, fallen trees and flooding.  What happens next when these conditions affect your home or business?  This would be a good time to call SERVPRO of Bloomington, Indiana at 812-824-2027.  

Our location’s team is ready to respond to the needs of our neighbors 24/7.  We provide the emergency services you require after storm damage, such as emergency tarping and boarding up to provide security and help prevent any additional damages from the conditions.  Once all hazards have subdued, our team will start working on cleaning up the debris and drying out the affected areas to get your home or business back to preloss condition. 

Our reconstruction team is also here to make sure your home is protected from further damage from storms as well as put it back to new condition. Our team specializes in the work that takes place after the structure is dried out and ready to rebuild. 

SERVPRO of Bloomington. Your leader in commercial and residential storm damage restoration. We make fire and water cleanup and restoration, "Like it never even happened."

Storm Damage in Monroe County

8/12/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bloomington is faster to any size disaster.  Our company takes pride in getting homes and businesses back to "Like it never even happened." and doing so quicker than our competitors. 

Our equipment is top of the line and our employees are trained regularly to stay educated on the up and coming technologies available to us.  Much like everything else in our lives, the fire and water restoration is becoming more and more digital so making sure our employees are trained on all of the newest technologies is a must.  

We help homeowners and businesses prepare for when tragedy strikes by giving them information on steps to take and also by setting up emergency ready plans to execute when those unexpected events occur.  For questions on what to do and how to help prevent these tragedies from happening give us a call at 812-824-2027 and have one of our team members come to you with a plan.

SERVPRO of Bloomington. Your leader in commercial and residential storm damage restoration. We make fire and water cleanup and restoration, "Like it never even happened."

When Storms and Disasters Strike

3/29/2022 (Permalink)

Your SERVPRO of Bloomington, IN has the area covered for the best in service Fire and Water restoration as well as construction services.  With a continued focus on the newest in technology, equipment as well as employee training and certification we can handle any sized disaster. 

The key to our success is making sure we get onsite as quickly as possible to ensure no further damage occurs from over exposure to fire or water damage. From there our trained professional staff begin by using state of the art equipment made specifically to help save as much in the home or business as possible.  

From fire, water and mold remediation, full scale laundry services as well as construction services, we are able to handle entire claims and bring things back to normal again. We also utilize the Matterport scanning system to allow for full scale digital walkthroughs of properties to help make the insurance process even easier.

For questions about getting service for any size disaster or to get set up for a free estimate, please contact us today 812-824-2027

Summer Thunderstorms in Bloomington, IN

6/23/2021 (Permalink)

When summer storms hit our area, look for the professionals at SERVPRO of Bloomington to help clean up damage done to your home. With high winds and heavy precipitation it's a recipe for water damage throughout your home.  SERVPRO has the equipment and trained technicians to make sure water damage is handled correctly the first time. 

No power, no problem. Even after storms take power out to homes we have secondary power units to be able to allow our equipment to run and trucks mounted water extraction units that can run without electricity.  After water damage we make sure to disinfect the flooded spaces to prevent future mold growth.

Though storm season can be scary, know that SERVPRO of Bloomington can help make it, “Like it never even happened.”

We service all of Monroe, Madison, Lawrence, Greene and Owen Counties in Indiana. For free estimates on any damage call us today at 812-824-2027.

Storm Warning Vs. Watch

6/18/2021 (Permalink)

We’ve all seen or heard the warning, but in many instances we always get storm warnings and watches mixed up.  When you hear the weather warning on the radio or television be sure you know the differences between the two.

These warnings and watches apply to the seasonality of storms from winter, summer, spring and fall, as well as be used for precipitation alerts.

A weather WATCH means that there are elements that exist for the potential development of severe weather. When this weather alert happens, it's a good idea to refresh yourself on your emergency evacuation or safety plans but you don’t need to act on them during this alert. 

A weather WARNING indicates that severe weather is in your area or it is already occurring based on either the severe weather has been spotted or is showing on weather radar. It is during this weather alert it's important to act on your emergency plans to ensure safety. 

For any severe weather event, you can count on the Professionals at SERVPRO of Bloomington to assist you if your home is damaged in any weather event. Give them a call today at 812-824-2027.

Preparing for Spring Storms

4/12/2021 (Permalink)

How To Prepare For Spring Storms

Spring time weather always brings a lot of uncertainty with regard to severe weather. It's always critical to have an emergency plan in place for those storms and the damage they may cause. 

Having a proper emergency plan in place helps to allow family members know where to go or where to be located, if following a storm communications are knocked out. It is also important to safely store non-perishable food items and plenty of fresh water.

If you have any damage following the storm, call SERVPRO to get them onsite as soon as possible. From board-ups, roof coverings and water mitigation we’ll get to work as quickly as possible. 

If you have any questions please contact your local office at 812-824-2027 and find out more on how SERVPRO can help you weather the storm.

Spring Showers Bring....

3/19/2021 (Permalink)

Spring showers bring basement flooding....or is it May flowers? Either way with winter out of the way and those heavy showers hitting we're seeing an influx of flooded basements. In some instances we can prevent those pesky showers from coming into our homes:

1. Making sure all gutters are clear of debris and that all downspouts from the gutters are extended beyond the foundation. Although they may not be pretty, during these heavy spring rains its beneficial to get them as far away from the home as possible. Doing this will help keep water from trying to flow back into the basement.

2. Test sump pumps. Easiest way is to take a 5-gallon bucket and fill up the sump well. Ensure the sump pump is able to pump the well water level down. Also be sure that the sump pump is clear of any obstacles so that the float or lift is able to activate the pump. 

3. Also for those in low lying areas, check your crawlspace to ensure that there is no standing water in your crawlspace. Standing water in your crawlspace invites unwanted mold to begin forming in an along the foundation walls and floor joists.

For any water damage that does occur, don't hesitate to call your local SERVPRO office today at 812-824-2027

What To Look For To Prevent Roof Leaks

3/3/2021 (Permalink)

You might have noticed water on your ceiling after a heavy rain or from snow melt. Though most homeowners aren’t roofers or in the roofing business, there are a few ways to inspect your roof before leaks happen. 

1. Inspect flashing - Inspect areas around where any plumbing vents, attic vents or chimneys extend above the roof. Check around those areas to also ensure any sealants around those areas are free of damage or cracks.
2. Check for holes - Easier said than done on some roofs. Falling limbs or branches can puncture roofs after a storm. It's always a best practice to inspect your roof after any limb or branch falls on it.
3. Check for missing or damaged shingles on your roof.

Water is always tricky in how it travels, so even though you might see where it's damaging your sheetrock from inside your home, the water may have found a different access point to get in. 

The best tip is to call the professionals at SERVPRO of Bloomington if that water makes it into your home. They have all the right tools to inspect and correct damage from water leaks and make sure mold won’t form.

Freezing Temperatures and Frozen Pipes

2/10/2021 (Permalink)

With the latest round of freezing cold temperatures in addition to freezing rain, sleet and snow its important to be prepared for the changing conditions. Its also important to recognize and prepare your home or business during these weather events. The most difficult part of these cold temperatures is that you may not see water damage until temps warm back up. These conditions are extremely tough on the exterior but can do more damage inside with freezing pipes. 

Once temperatures begin to rise it will be critical to inspect for any leaks inside or under your home or business. As soon as you see water be sure to shut off the water and call SERVPRO of Bloomington at 812-824-2027  to get your home or business fully inspected and dried. Its important to address the issue as soon as possible before damage is done to the structure or mold begins for form.