Minneapolis, Minnesota receives an average of 52 inches of snow a year and has an average high temperature of 23 degrees Fahrenheit during winter months Brrr. Right? This type of winter can lead to frozen pipes which can later lead to a pipe bursting. Even though cities such as these are vulnerable to frozen pipes with the amount of precipitation and cold temperatures, any other place with a relatively similar climate may be vulnerable as well. Minneapolis is also home to 24 Restore, an emergency service company specialized in frozen pipes, water damage and restoration. If you want to avoid a frozen or bursting pipe, here is a list of ways to prevent the future hassle of water damage.
How Do Frozen Pipes Cause Water Damage?
Before we know how to prevent frozen pipes, we need to understand how they freeze and how they burst. Water begins to freeze at 32 degrees; however, pipes begin to freeze when the outside temperature drops to 20 degrees. When water freezes it expands. Consequently, if water freezes in a pipe, it begins expanding and exerting pressure on the pipe. When the pressure becomes too great for the pipe to handle, the pipe will burst causing water damage in a home.
How To Prevent Water Damage From Frozen Pipes
Insulation is one of the best ways to prevent your pipes from freezing and later on bursting. This can be achieved by using special pipe insulation, heat tape, or heat cables. Insulating a pipe will increase the freezing temperature. For instance, the typical pipe freezing temperature is 20 degrees; however, depending on the type of insulation, the freezing temperature may rise to 30 degrees. Thus, decreasing your chances of frozen pipes and future water damage.
Before winter and cold weather sets in, disconnect sprinkler systems, hoses, or any other water sources leading outside. Taking this precaution makes certain your outside water systems don’t freeze or burst and it ensures those systems don’t affect your home during winter.
Keeping your thermostat above 55 degrees ensures pipes in the walls won’t freeze. Pipes running through your walls are colder than living areas; therefore, keeping your thermostat at 55 or higher keeps pipes above their freezing temperature of 20 degrees.
This one may sound simple but helps more than you think. Simply opening cabinets in bathrooms and kitchens lets the warmer air flow through those areas with pipes in bathrooms and kitchens. Just like we can’t pass through a closed door, it’s hard for air to go through closed cabinets. Open your cabinets for warm airflow.
Do you ever wonder why lakes freeze more than rivers in the wintertime? Well it’s because the river is moving while a lake is standing still. Pipes are the same way. Sitting water will freeze a lot easier than flowing water. Consequently, letting your faucets drip a small stream of lukewarm water will help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.
Lastly, if water lines are located in your garage, make sure your garage doors are closed. Remember it’s hard for air to flow when there’s a door in its way. Keeping cold air and wind away from your pipes is a preventative measure against future water damage.
Professional Water Damage Cleanup In Minneapolis
Frozen pipes can lead to burst pipes which can lead to water damage and later a (sometimes expensive) water restoration process. 24 Restore in Minneapolis will help will all your frozen pipe needs and restoration. Just give their 24-hour hotline a call.
“24Restore came within an hour of our water damage to assess the problem and restore and reconstruct our kitchen and my office. Everyone from 24Restore was professional, kind and did an outstanding job of damage assessment and restoration.”
- Barbara R.
Your service was excellent. The young man was thorough and very dedicated to completing the job. He’s a good one. I would recommend your services to anyone who need them.
- Keith
Your team has been absolutely amazing, professional, sympathetic and wonderful. They took my mess and made it manageable as I shed a few tears, which they also consoled with empathy. At a time when we have floods and tornados city wide you responded within hours. Thank, I am impressed and I have passed the word on to many.
- Genie
Very good experience……everyone I dealt with through 24 Restore was very professional and very kind.
- Nancy
This note is a note of thanks and appreciation of the services provided…..we could even say our home looks better than before we incurred our water damage…Job well done!
- Jay and Susan
I don’t often take the time to write a follow up complimentary letter. However I was very impressed with 24 Restore and felt they went above and beyond to surpass expectations with WOW service. Thank you for the great service and great job that your team did to get my house back in shape.
- Jane
I have recommended them to many of my friends. They are the only service that I have ever used that always gets my stains out and that clean my carpets beautifully. I can’t say enough good thins about them
- Laura
Thank you for all the work put in to get out home……It would have been an impossible task for us to have accomplished in such a short time. We appreciate all that you have done for us! We are so grateful!
- Ken and Kathe
Yes. I appreciated the ability to funnel all activities thru a one-stop shop proved to be very valuable in a disaster project such as ours demo, construction and finish as well as work directly with insurance company. The team has been professional and those on site have been respectful of our home and schedule.
- Reed
Alex did a great job scheduling, coordinating, and keeping me informed. He made sure that everything was done in a timely manner. I always felt that my job was a priority. All the workmen did a great job and were very polite. I am pleased with the results. I would highly recommend your company!
- Linda – Minneapolis
From the time of initial contact to the time of job completion was 24 hrs. Very pleased with job outcome. Will definitely use you again. If ever in need.
- Kevin – St. Paul
Response time was awesome. We we’re bewildered by what was happening and what needed to be done. 24hr came in and took care of what needed to be done.
- Susan – Plymouth
I thought 24 was very professional and timely work.
- Veronica – Lake Elmo
24Restore was very responsive and did a thorough job plus they cleaned up after themselves.
- Jean – St. Cloud
The job was exceptionally well done. You were recommended to me by Dennis Carlson, a freind and I would definatley refer 24restore to friends and family.
- Jan – Anoka
Very Professional!
- Gordon – Andover
Everyone was on top of everything and got back to me in a reasonable time. Clean up was done absolutely perfect at the end of each job.
- Pam – Arden Hills
The guys who worked here were great, polite, personable and hard workers. They did a great job! So thankful this is over!
- Ron and Jackie – Minneapolis
Working with the employees at 24restore has been an easy process. They aimed to please.
Kudos to Shelli Abraham especially, she worked with the mortgage company and insurance company so I didn’t have to, I’m a caregiver for my husband with Dementia, she took the pressure off having to deal with them, thanks Shelli.