Winter Storms and Broken Pipes

12/20/2019 (Permalink)

Pipes can easily freeze and rupture during the bitter cold of Michigan winters

The Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area face a few serious winter risks, but the bitter cold of Metro Detroit can be a real threat to your home.

Pipes break when exposed to the cold weather anywhere - outside your house, near exterior walls or in cold areas such as basements, attics, and garages. Even under sink kitchen or bathroom pipes are vulnerable if the heat drops inside your home. A frozen pipe can burst at the point where the ice blockage inside the pipe is located. More often the rupture is caused by the back flow pressure between the water source and the frozen blockage. A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed immediately. The American Red Cross offers a few tips to help prevent frozen pipes in your home.

• Completely drain water from swimming pools, sprinkler lines, and outside hoses
• Open kitchen cabinets to let warm air near the plumbing
• Let a very small amount of water drip from faucets that may come from exposed pipes
• Keep your heat set to the same temperature both day and night

If you are lucky enough to escape the Michigan winters, please do not lower the heat in your empty house more than a few degrees. Every winter we see several empty homes with broken pipes due to the heat being turned off or lowered to dangerous levels. The energy cost savings will not outweigh the insurance claim. For more information visit https://disastersafety.org/winter-weather/protect-your-home-from-severe-winter-weather/

About SERVPRO of Dearborn/Dearborn Heights Southeast
SERVPRO^® of Dearborn/Dearborn Heights SE provides 24-hour disaster mitigation service. We specialize in the restoration of homes and businesses suffering losses from fire and smoke, water, flood, wind, and storm damage. Our locally owned and operated 24/7 response team is always just a phone call away. 313-359-3457