Along with snow and ice, winter also comes with a potential for frozen pipes. Once your pipes freeze, thawing them before they burst is a frustrating, unreliable process. The best way to combat this cold-weather problem is to prevent pipes from freezing in the first place. As a fully insured water removal service in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Property Restore is there when you need disaster cleanup, but they’re also here to help prevent your pipes from freezing this winter. Here are a few tips to help stop the problem before it starts:

• Disconnect Your Garden Hose: When the water in your hose freezes, it forces the hose to expand. That increase in pressure can easily lead to a burst pipe. As part of your winter maintenance, disconnect the hose from the spigot, drain the spigot, and install a faucet insulator.
• Insulate Exposed Pipes: Pipes that run through your attic, crawlspace, basement, or any other area that isn’t heated are also at risk of freezing. Foam pipe insulation is an inexpensive way to protect these exposed pipes. Those dark spaces are also prone to mold and mildew, so these extra precautions are important to prevent water damage and mold growth.
• Open Cabinet Doors: It’s common for sinks to be set up against exterior walls, and it’s also common for the space underneath sinks to be poorly insulated. With the cold outside air just one thin wall away, it’s a good idea to treat the pipes under your sink with the same caution as the exposed pipes in your basement. You can wrap them in insulation, but another handy trick is to simply open your cabinet door to let in air from your heated home.

If it’s already too late for your pipes, you have the water removal experts from Blue Ridge Property Restore on your side. Their professional services will clean up after a burst pipe and help you prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Call them at (304) 262-8100 or visit their website for more information about their water removal services.