Winter brings freezing cold temperatures and quick thaws. With this fluctuation in the weather patterns pipes and mains must be a concern as the freeze / thaw process can cause them to burst. Even a slow leak can cause mold growth causing many other problems.
Vacation homes and unheated areas such as basements and attics can be an area of real concern and should be checked.
Talk to your clients about these hazards and consider providing information on how they can best manage these risks within their control before the accident happens.
Below is some vvaluable information about frozen pipes from our friends at Maxons Restoration that you may want to consider passing on.
How To Look For Leaks
- Trust yourself - you may not know
what's right, but you can usually spot what's wrong.
- Puddles of water big or small
under sinks, near floorboards, water marks on the ceiling, etc.
- Move the clutter - most slow
leaks under sinks and in basements are missed because they can't be
seen.
- If your sink has no water, or
perhaps cold water but no hot water your pipe is probably frozen.
- Take the time to look in and around
hard-to-find spots like crawl spaces or along outside walls.
- Look at over exposed pipes, like
those leading to a water heater.
- Touch the walls and see if they
feel damp.
- Keep an eye on your water meter. Turn off all faucets, outlets and water using appliances. Look at the dial on your water meter. If the dial on the
water meter is moving (watch it for at least 10 minutes), it means
there is water running through the meter. If the water is running through the
meter and the water valve is shut off, this indicates there is a leak in the
line.
- Watch your bill. Compare your
current water use to past use.
- Consider installing water alarms
for areas that are hard to see or reach.
