Despite the sheer beauty and the utter tranquility of a winter landscape that most people in tropical countries would love to see at least once in their lifetime, there are still a lot of perils that this season could bring, particularly for residents of New York. The state have had its share of winter problems, from river flooding caused by ice jams in its waterways, to burst pipes due to the extremely cold temperatures that this weather would bring. In such cases, water damage restoration NY programs are required.



While islanders dream of having a white Christmas, it is quite the opposite for some residents of New York, particularly those who have lived most of their lives in this state. They would rather spend their winters in a tropical island, basking in the sun, instead of shivering from the cold. However, there are cases where these residents would return to New York from a grand tropical vacation, only to find out that their homes were flooded with freezing water. The main reason is their failure in winterizing these water pipes. These active but unprotected pipes eventually froze during the cold winter and burst, sending out gallons upon gallons of cold winter water into the home. The homeowner would have no choice but to employ a water damage restoration NY company in order to save their home.

The following are some tips that New Yorkers can follow when winter season comes, particularly in the area of protecting their water pipes. Water damage restoration NY companies are also giving similar advices, as well as the State Government to their constituents, on how to winterize their homes. These procedures should be followed, not only for people who are migrating south for the winter, but also to residents who opted to spend their winters at home.

The best way to winterize your water pipes and prevent having to do water damage restoration in NY, is to properly insulate the pipes. You should do this just before the cold weather hits your area. Before performing any insulation work, you need to check the pipes for any possible leaks that would make it faster for the pipes to freeze. When every length is checked and sealed, proceed with wrapping the pipes with insulation. You could use industrial heat tape which you can purchase from hardware stores. Thermal insulating foams can also be used but is quite more expensive. If these are not available, you can use layers of old newspapers wrapped around the pipes, then cover with plastic wrapping to keep moisture out.

For travelers during the winter season, it would be best to shut down all supply taps going into the home. This would be a good precaution just in case your insulation job will not work out and end up with a burst pipe. A good way to prevent water damage restoration in NY while you are away is to have someone regularly check your house from time to time. They would need to check for any signs of pipes bursting, as well as the condition of your heaters and ensure they are still running.

Residents, who opted to stay home during the winter, can prevent water damage restoration in NY by regularly checking the condition of their pipes and other household items. Make sure you have good heating which is set not lower than 55'F to provide good heating around the house. Share the warm air in your home to your pipes that are located inside cabinets by opening doors and drawers. Before settling in for the night, let cold water trickle at an outside water faucet. Running water would freeze more slowly than stagnant water in pipes.

If, despite all your efforts your water pipe still freezes and eventually burst, immediately shut off the main water valve. It would be wise to know this beforehand so you won't need to guess which valve is the correct one or not. This could save you from spending thousands of dollars from water damage restoration in NY. Call a professional plumber immediately, but while doing so, do not attempt to thaw a frozen pipe by using a blowtorch or any other open flame.

These are simple tips that New Yorkers can always follow particularly during winter time. Having this knowledge would give them an idea on how to quickly resolve problems as they come, and even preventing one from occurring. Doing so would make their New York a truly winter wonderland