What Should I Do If My Pipes Are Frozen?

The weatherman has warned you that a cold front is barreling its way into your local area. You go to sleep the night before with extra covers on the bed and the thermal blanket set to "high". When you awake in the morning, it takes all of your determination to crawl from between the warm covers to start your day. As you step to the sink and turn the faucet on, nothing happens. Oh no! You forgot to leave the water trickling over night. Obviously, water has frozen in the pipes. Thankfully, you look around everywhere in the house and you see no evidence of a water leak. You may assume that the only tragedy is that you'll have to go to work without a shower, but think again.

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Water Damage Prevention for Your Commercial Building

Every building is at risk of water damage. Over 7,000 fire, water and storm losses are reported each day - water is the most common. The causes can range from minor roof leaks to major storm damage. Protecting the roofs, walls and windows is essential to reducing the likelihood of water damage. The following checklist will help you to protect your business from a costly water damage.

Roofs
- Inspect all rooftop penetrations regularly inside and out.
- Inspect seals around HVAC systems to be sure they are intact.
- Inspect condition of flashings around skylights, vents and other rooftop elements.
- Inspect for water stains.
- If your roof is flat, inspect roof drains monthly.

Walls

 - Inspect wall penetrations for proper flashing and sealant integrity.
- Inspect wall joints at windows, doors, electrical and plumbing penetrations.

Windows

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Before you leave for vacation

When you leave your home for an extended period of time no matter what time of year it is, turn off the main supply line of water to your home. If you dont, you may come back and everything will be just as you left it. But there is a chance that you can have a water line in your house break and your "vacation" as you knew it will be ruined because your home will have water damage and in these cases... a very big water damage. Its good for us but bad for you! Please do keep champion in mind if you do have a water damage. Our expertise knowledge of structural drying and the genuine care for your home will allow us to do the best job possible of restoring your home to normal.

Thomas Stuart - Mitigation Crew

Prepare for Cold Weather

Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region. Even areas that normally experience mild winters can be hit with a major snowstorm or extreme cold. Winter storms can result in flooding, storm surge, closed highways, blocked roads, downed power lines and hypothermia.

How can you prepare your home and family?

Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.

Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.

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Ice Cold Trivia

1. TRUE OR FALSE: You have to use the bathroom more when you are cold?

The answer is TRUE. When you're exposed to cold weather, your blood vessels constrict, and the flow of blood to the skin is reduced, resulting in an overall slowdown of the circulatory system and a rise in blood pressure. To reduce this pressure, the body wants to get rid of as much fluid as possible through urine production. This phenomenon, known in medical terms as cold dieresis, explains why you may have to visit the bathroom more often when it's cold.

2. What are cold water swimming organizations known as in the United States and Canada?

A. Eskimo Clubs
B. Walrus clubs
C. Ice Swimming Clubs
D. Polar Bear Clubs

The answer is D. Polar Bear Clubs

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FREEZE ALERT!

This week we are expecting the coldest weather in 7 years. With the combination of the cold weather and high winds, many of our clients may experience water damage from frozen pipes.

If you experience a water damage at your home or business, please call Champion for immediate response 24/7.

We have over 1000 pieces of drying equipment and 25 crews available. 

We also offer many valuable resources in our information center on our blog.

Champion's Information Center

As always, the Champion team is committed to doing everything in our power to continue to provide outstanding service to our clients during this year's winter freeze season. If you have any questions please feel free to call our office at
770-253-6070.

 Click Here to Report Water Damage and Have Crews Dispatched Immediately!

Frozen Pipes - Prevention and Thawing

The cold temperatures of winter bring with them the chilly fun of snowmen and sledding, but they also bring the danger of frozen pipes. When it's cold outside, it's important to take preventative measures to keep your pipes from freezing. And, if they've frozen already, you need to get them thawed quickly, before they burst and ruin your wintry fun!

Especially if you have outside pipes, plumbing located in external walls, or pipes in unheated spaces, you need to be extra careful. Several simple steps can help prevent frozen pipes. First, if you have vulnerable plumbing, just leave the faucet dripping at a slight trickle. The moving water won't be able to freeze solid, negating the danger of burst pipes.

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Get Ready for Winter Advisories & Ice Storms

Temperatures are barely predicted to rise aboving freezing all week which could mean several hazards across the state.  FEMA and Ready GA are encouraging everyone to be prepared for this winter weather.  These tips are from www.ready.ga.gov and we hope they are useful to all of you.

Prepare for Winter Weather

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How to Prevent Water Damage

In 2007, 22% of all homeowner’s insurance losses in the United States were caused by water damage.  Just a few steps could help you prevent a water damage from happening.

1. Know where your water shutoff valve is located.  Be sure that the entire family knows how to shut off household water supplies in the event of a sudden pipe or hose break.


2. Let faucets drip during extremely cold weather. This keeps the water moving and helps to reduce the chance of freezing.


3. Never leave the house with appliances, such as dishwashers, washers or dyers, still operating.


4. Turn off the water while you’re out of town. Many homeowners have returned from vacation to find their washer hoses have burst and flooded their homes.


5. Inspect your plumbing every year. You should inspect your water pipes and fittings annually. This is a simple check that takes only a few minutes but could prevent thousands of dollars in water damage.


6. Inspect your water heater, washer, dishwasher, sinks, toilets and refrigerator ice maker for evidence of water leaks and repair immediately.


7. Use the exhaust fan in the bathroom while the shower is on. This helps to remove steam from the room.


8. Check your hoses and replace them if they indicate wear.  Consider replacing hoses to your washer and dishwasher every two to five years.


9. Repair window and door cracks with caulk. This helps to prevent water from seeping into the house from outside.


10. Clean out gutters and down spouts regularly. This helps prevent overflowing, which may damage your roof.

What a disaster!!!

What a disaster!  Water can be a mighty and destructive force.  And now your plasma television is dripping and your shoes are ruined.  But those aren’t the things that have your heart breaking.  It’s the antique photo of your grandparents on their wedding day setting right beside your own wedding photo and both are wrinkling and peeling as a photo album floats past you on the floor.  Everything else is replaceable, but those moments captured in an image on paper can never be duplicated. They are your memories, your trips, your precious loved ones and your family history. 

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