Carpet Water Damage – Winter
Freezing Pipes in the Winter Months
If you live in Minnesota, this time of year, we need to be aware of how quickly our pipes can freeze which can lead to carpet water damage. With the average temperature being around 20 degrees, cold evenings and a strong polar vortex can wreak havoc on your pipes. This means Advanced Carpet Restoration wants to help you prevent water damage to your home carpets with these great tips. If your home has lovely carpeting, you will want to safeguard your investment. While most brands of well-made carpets last for well over a decade with regular care, unexpected carpet water damage holds the potential to significantly shorten the useful lifespan of these assets. Calling in a professional and addressing the issue promptly, can save you time and money.
How to Prevent Freezing Pipes
As a homeowner, you can take a few precautions to ensure your pipes don’t freeze during these winter months. If you are planning a vacation, it is a good idea to turn your main water line source off. If a pipe breaks while you are gone, this limits the amount of water that will be expelled because you have turned it off at the source.
It is also a good idea to check all pipes that face an exterior wall are properly insulated. Strong winds and freezing temperatures can create drafts inside walls and freeze the closest pipes. Try insulating these pipes with electrical heat tape, found at any local hardware store.
If your pipes do happen to freeze, turn up the heat in your home and help circulate warm air around the pipes. Turn the faucets on all the way to help relieve any pressure in the water pipe itself. Some people will even use a space heater or hair dryer on a particularly cold spot. Remove any items from the area that may be retaining water and try to mop up any standing water. Water from a broken pipe is fairly clean, so the chances of bacteria spreading is minimal. If you have a portable fan, it is helpful to plug those in to help dry out the area as well.
Water Damage from Freezing Pipes
Water damage to carpet can vary depending on the type of carpet you have in your home. However, most types of carpets do not fare well in damp environments. Even water-resistant outdoor carpet sometimes sustains water damage. The best thing to do, if you have water damage to your carpets, is to call the professionals at Advance Carpet Restoration and have us come assess the situation. We can determine the extent of the damage and the post efficient option for correcting the problem.
If you do happen to have a pipe that burst this winter, the best thing to do is call the professionals at Advanced Carpet Restoration. Skilled cleaners at Advanced Carpet Restoration may help homeowners preserve damp carpets and other floor coverings. In other cases, we may recommend replacing damaged carpeting after completely drying and disinfecting the location. The bottom line: the nature and extent of carpet water damage proves pivotal in terms of implementing an optimal remediation strategy.
By taking steps to prevent water damage to carpeting and upholstery, property owners maintain more comfortable, healthier living spaces. Damp carpets remain at higher risk for promoting the growth of molds and mildews. Water damage sometimes causes the premature loss of lovely carpeting, depriving homeowners of an important asset.
Check out our services page for a full description of what we offer – we look forward to serving you!