Disaster One is a full service restoration company providing quality workmanship and superior customer service in the business of property damage restoration. Since 1977, Disaster One has been serving commercial and residential customers throughout our service areas specializing in water damage, fire/smoke damage, storm damage, mold remediation, and much more.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Frozen Pipes: How to Avoid a Disaster
Want to join the nearly half million American homes and businesses that suffer water damage from frozen pipes? Want the expense of dealing with flooding, structural damage, and possibly even mold? We didn't think so.
As winter cranks up and temperatures fall, we've entered the frozen pipe season again. But you can dramatically reduce your chances of joining this unwelcome club by taking a few simple steps.
Why do pipes freeze?
Your pipes can freeze for any combination of reasons:
Quick drops in temperature
Poor insulation
Setting thermostats too low
How do I keep my pipes from freezing?
You can't keep the temperature from dropping, but you can protect your pipes.
If you haven't already done so, insulate any pipes in your crawl space and attic. Pipe freezing is especially an issue in warmer climates where pipes run through un-insulated or under-insulated spaces like these. Pay attention to pipes that are adjacent to exterior walls inside your structure as well. Both hot and cold lines should be insulated.
Seal leaks that let cold air into spaces where pipes are located. If it's cold enough, even a small opening could let in enough cold air to freeze a pipe.
Disconnect garden hoses and drain sprinkler systems to reduce the chance of freezing at those points.
When a hard freeze is coming:
Let warm water trickle from faucets overnight, particularly on an exterior wall or at the end of a long stretch of unprotected pipe.
Open cabinet doors, especially near exterior walls, to allow heat to reach uninsulated pipes under sinks, etc. (Make sure harmful cleaners or other household chemicals are out of the reach of children.)
Don't turn your thermostat down at night during extreme cold. Further drops in temperature could be enough to cause a problem. Your heating bill may go up a little, but that's better than an expensive repair job if a pipe freezes and bursts.
My pipes froze...now what?
Don't assume your pipes will automatically burst if they've frozen. No reason to panic yet.
Turn on your faucets and leave them on. As the frozen area starts to melt, water will start moving again and help more ice to melt.
Try to locate the frozen area of the pipe. Apply heat to the frozen area if possible. You can use an electric heating pad, electric hair dryer, a portable space heater, or wrap the pipes in towels soaked in hot water. CAUTION: never use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater or other open flame that could create a fire hazard. Such a device could also boil the water, causing the pipe to explode.
If these steps don't do the trick, or if you can't find the frozen area or don't feel confident about performing these steps, call a licensed plumber.
What if a pipe bursts?
Turn the water off at the main shutoff valve and leave the faucets on. Call a licensed plumber immediately to repair the pipe.
It's a tragedy we've seen all too often during the holidays - fire claims a family's home destroying gifts and other possessions, and sometimes with even more horrific consequenses. The US Fire Administration (USFA), a part of the Department of Homeland Security, reports holiday season fires claim the lives of more than 400 people each year, many more injured, and nearly $1 billion in damage.
But there are some things you can do stay safe and happy this holiday season. Here are 19 holiday fire safety tips to keep top of mind:
Christmas Tree Safety
1. A live Christmas tree can become engulfed in flames in seconds, filling a room with fire and deadly gases. When selecting a tree, be sure to find one that is fresh, with green needles that don't easily fall off. An old, dried out tree is a fire hazard.
2. Don't put your tree close to a fireplace or heat vent. Heat dries out the tree, again creating a fire hazard.
3. Keep the stand filled with water at all times.
Holiday Light Safety
4. Inspect holiday lights for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in insulation, etc.
5. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
6. Don't overload electrical outlets - no more than 3 light strands in series.
7. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging into the outlet.
8. Never leave holiday lights on unattended. After a busy day or holiday party, go through the entire house and turn off the lights and tree before going to bed or leaving the house.
Holiday Decoration Safety
9. Use only nonflammable decorations.
10. Place decorations away from heat vents.
11. Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace; ht can result in a very large fire.
12. If you use a metallic or artificial tree, be sure it is flame retardant.
Candle Safety
13. Avoid using lit candles if possible. If you do use them, place them in stable holders where the can't be knocked down. Never leave candles unattended.
14. Never put lit candles on a tree - don't go near a Christmas tree with any open flame.
Other things to remember:
15. Make sure your smoke alarms have fresh batteries.
16. Don't leave cooking appliances unattended.
17. Have a chimney sweep inspect the fireplace.
18. Know when and how to call for help.
19.Practice your home escape plan.
It's easy to become distracted by the busyness of the holidays, but the cost can be high. Be safe!
Do you have other safety tips? Add a comment below!
Change your smoke detector batteries when you "Fall Back"
It's a good habit to form. If you use battery-powered smoke detectors in your home or business, you should change the batteries this weekend as you turn your clocks back.
This Sunday, November 6, most of the U.S. goes back from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time at 2:00 am. While you're changing your clocks, it's a great time to go ahead and change the batteries. No, there's nothing magical about doing these tasks at the same time - it's just an excellent way to link the tasks in your memory and avoid having a dead smoke detector. The last thing you want is to find out your batteries are dead by having a fire in your home or office and the detector fails to warn you!
It's recommended that the battery in every smoke detector be changed at least annually. If you didn't change them last spring when we moved to Daylight Saving Time, then you definitely want to do so this weekend.
By the way, most of us have mobile devices whose clocks change automatically when the time changes. The challenge we face is to remember all of the other clocks that need to be changed manually. Here's a few that we sometimes overlook:
Microwave/oven clocks
Coffeemaker clocks
Programmable thermostat clocks
Car radio clocks
Alarm clocks
Mantel clocks
Wristwatches (yes, some folks still wear them!)
Do you have other tips? Add them in the comments section!
Disaster One, Inc. a leading restoration company serving the Southeast U.S., announced today it is expanding its business in North Carolina with the opening of a new office in Fayetteville. John Gist, regional manager of Disaster One’s Raleigh division, will also oversee the Fayetteville office.
“We’re excited to be in Fayetteville,” said Rasmus Fenger, Disaster One President. “We’ve already done a great deal of work in Cumberland County, beginning with helping out a lot of folks who suffered losses during the tornadoes that hit last spring.”
Disaster One was asked to step in and assist with the overwhelming volume of repair claims insurance companies faced in the aftermath of April tornadoes that ripped through North Carolina. The opening of its Fayetteville office expands the company’s ability to provide local restoration support, and demonstrates its long-term commitment to the area.
“We see a need for a local full-service restoration company that can respond quickly to a property loss,” stated Gist. “We’ve been serving North Carolina for over 34 years, and now that we’re in Fayetteville we can continue to provide that level of service locally. We’re absolutely committed to serving the needs of our customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.“
The new office is located at:
Disaster One 3011 Raeford Road Fayetteville, NC 28303 (910) 223-2611
If you haven't already started planning, it's not too late. With Hurricane Irene setting its sights on the US east coast, now's the time to make sure you have a hurricane preparedness plan in place - especially if you're within a few hours of the coast (we all know hurricanes can wreak havoc well inland).
PLAN NOW
Here are a few tips to help make sure you're prepared:
Establish a written emergency plan for your family and your business
Review insurance coverage for your home and business. Be sure to check your flood insurance eligibility (homeowner insurance doesn't typically cover flood damage).
If you live in a hurricane evacuation zone, make sure you have an evacuation plan. Know the route you'll use if you're told to evacuate.
Know where emergency shelters are located in your area.
Agree on a place where family members can meet if separated.
Test your emergency equipment (generators, flashlights, etc.) in advance.
HURRICANE SURVIVAL KIT
You should have a hurricane survival kit that includes the following:
At least a 3-day supply of water (1 gallon per person per day)
Non-perishable food
Baby needs (formula, diapers, etc.)
First aid kit
Manual can opener
Medicines (prescription and non-prescription)
Cell phones and battery-powered chargers
Battery-powered weather radio
Flashlights (and spare batteries)
Cash
Toiletries
Sleeping bags and blankets
Books, magazines, games
Important documents (insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, SSN, etc.)
MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS FILLED WITH GAS!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Here are a couple of excellent resources for further info:
This video was produced by Elon Unviersity students from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. The project was a part of their assignment assisting with Disaster One's 2011 Piedmont Business Ethics Award submission. We think they did an awesome job, especially considering they did it without the benefit of expensive commercial video production equipment. Hats off to David MacLeod, Nick Sissine, and Thomas Wilson!
Didn't they do a nice job? Post your thoughts in the comments space below!
Disaster One's Charlotte regional manager Joe Bitzan walks viewers through the work being done on the artifacts recovered from the "Miracle on the Hudson" plane. Click on the video to see what his team has been up to! Video courtesy of WJZY-TV, Charlotte.
These items are being conserved in preparation for the aircraft display at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte, NC in 2012.
Do you remember seeing the amazing pictures on the news when Capt. "Sully" ditched in the Hudson River on that cold January morning in 2009? Share your comments below.
Disaster One, Inc. provides disaster restoration and cleaning services including water damage, fire damage, smoke damage, storm damage, mold remediation, trauma scene cleanup, and carpet restoration for residential and commercial clients. Office locations in Greensboro, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Raleigh, and Atlanta.
Want to join the nearly half million American homes and businesses that suffer water damage from frozen pipes? Want the expense of dealing with flooding, structural damage, and possibly even mold? We didn't think so.
