Prevent the Need for Water Damage Restoration in Orange County in the Winter

10/3/2022 (Permalink)

The winter is one of the most common times people need to hire someone for water damage restoration in Orange County. Not only is this the time of more snow and rainfall, but it’s also the time that freezing occurs. You’ll be surprised by the amount of homeowners suffer from frozen pipes.

When a pipe bursts, the water damage can be extreme. And it isn’t just in one room. You can find multiple rooms on multiple levels in the home are damaged. This can even take place in multiple units if you live in an apartment building.

It’s important to prevent pipes from freezing and then bursting. You also want to take steps to protect the home from the forces outside in the winter. Here’s how you can prevent the need for water damage restoration in Orange County.

Turn Your Heat On and Off

Even if you’re not going to be in the house, make sure your heating turns on for a few hours in the day. You want to set your thermostat to about 65F, especially if you’re not going to be in the house. This will allow the heating to turn on for a bit, warm up the space, and prevent the freezing cold from taking over.

You don’t need your heating on all the time. If you don’t want to set the heating to turn on once the heat gets to a certain level, have it set to turn on and off at particular times. Last thing at night and first thing on a morning will help counter the cold during the worst periods.

Shut Off Water Outside

If you have outside taps, make sure the water to them is shut off in the winter. This helps to prevent any water building up in these pipes so they can’t freeze and then burst. You’ll be surprised by the amount of people who don’t shut off their water!

The water outside can be black. If it runs into your home, the water damage restoration in Orange County is going to be much harsher and can lead to losing more belongings.

Insulate Your Pipes and Walls

Insulation is your best friend in the winter. It’s not just going to help keep your home warmer, but it can also prevent the pipes freezing and potentially bursting. Make sure all your outside walls are insulated – you may be able to get a tax deduction for this due to the heating and energy efficiency benefits.

You can also place insulation around the drains and pipes. This is beneficial for any drains or pipes outside the home that tend to freeze. You’ll prevent the inside from freezing because the cold temperatures don’t hit as much.

If you do end up with frozen pipes, you can use hot and cold water flowing through slowly to help unfreeze them. Turning up your thermostat a little extra can also help to thaw out the pipes. Doing both will help reduce the need for water damage restoration in Orange County.