Atlanta Water Damage Restoration

Warning: Freezing temperatures can cause frozen pipes and water damage in Atlanta over the next few nights!

City of Atlanta Water Utilities are encouraging homeowners to be extra careful to avoid having frozen pipes burst. Water Utility Departments all over the country are being inundated with calls and complaints about frozen and burst water pipes.

Atlanta is no different as we receive our second week of  low temperatures of under 20 degrees. Today Atlanta meteorologists describe it as feeling zero degrees with the wind chill factors. Since it will remain bitingly cold through next week here are a few helpful reminders to prevent your pipes from freezing, bursting and causing water damage. Remember that clean up is only half the battle if your pipes freeze. What you also have to worry about is the water damage restoration work that may be required. Failure to clean up correctly could result in mold problems later on.

Here are a few helpful reminders to avoid your pipes from freezing:

• Outside hose connections are the most susceptible since they are open to the elements.  Exterior weathr proof insulated bibs can be purchased from Home Depot or Lowes to help keep these insulated from the harsh wind

• Do you have any exposed pipes in an unheated garage or basement? Wrap these with pipe insulation (also available from Home Depot). If you can’t get out then take some old news paper and wrap several layers of the newspaper around their tightly.

• Pick up some heat tape that you can plug into a nearby outlet or receptacle. This heat tape will keep the pipes nice and toasty!

• What about letting your faucets drip at night? This could be a good idea. Experts tell us not let the the stream of water get larger than the lead of a pencil.

• Do you know where your master water valve is? You better locate it now before you have a problem. Look  where pipes enter a garage, crawl space or basement. If your pipes break you will need to shut this off as quickly as possible to avoid water damage.

• What if my pipes freeze, can I use an open flame to melt them? While this might sound smart at first… don’t do it! It can easily cause a fire or actually damage the pipe connections and fittings. (Many pipes are made of pvc and could easily be damaged.)

Take this advice so you do not have to worry about your pipes freezing over the next few days and then having to suffer water damage in Atlanta.

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Atlanta water damage restoration specialists

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One of the easiest ways to avoid Atlanta water damage is to clean your gutters on a regular basis.

What is black, slimey and quietly damaging your homes foundation while you read this? I’ll give you another hint…  It is also a breeding ground for mosquitoes, termites and mice. Have you guessed yet?

We are talking about the garbage that is collecting in your gutters. While you are reading this article, leaves, pine straw and other wind swept debris are silently collecting in your gutters and clogging your downspouts.

While gutter cleaning is one of most dreaded things for a home owner to do, it is also one of the most important things you can do to maintain and protect the beauty and value of your home.

Why is gutter cleaning so important to the future well being of your home and family? (more…)

You come home from work to find your home a complete wet mess. Here are a few tips to help clean up your water damage Atlanta, so pay very close attention as they can mean the difference in saving your home, belongings, health and safety too.

The reason we say this is that water damage cleanup involves more than just drying out a few of your favorite dripping wet carpets. You will have to realize that you will need to deal with all kinds of flood-related problems including possible electrical problems, replacing damaged sheet rock, and preventing the mold from growing. So let’s start with safety first.

1. We are all aware of the old saying that water and electricity do not mix. So the very first thing that you need to do to avoid possible electrocution is that if the floors are wet not to turn on any electrical switches or touch or plug in any electrical appliances. Sad to say countless people are killed by combining water and electricity each year. If the electrical panel is in a dry area then go ahead and shut off the circuit breakers until you can dry everything out. If the power has shut down itself because of the water do not attempt to turn it back on until a licensed electrician has surveyed the situation. (more…)