Dangerously Cold Temperatures and Your Home

1/7/2025 (Permalink)

Hoosiers are no strangers to rapidly fluctuating seasonal conditions. A winter day in Central Indiana can mean rain, snow, gusty winds and plummeting temperatures. While the weather may be unpredictable, there are simple steps that homeowners can take to make their home more resilient to tough Indiana winters.

Shut off the water supply to outside spigots and remove all garden hoses. Open valves to drain all the lines.

Identify any exposed pipes in non-insulated areas of your home such as the basement, crawlspace and attic. If possible, add insulation to these areas to try to regulate the temperature and wrap exposed pipes with foam insulation.

If temperatures are expected to drop to dangerous levels, consider turning on hot and cold water faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms to a slow drip. Open cupboard doors to encourage warm air to circulate around the pipes.

Ensure that everyone in your household can locate the water shut-off valve and knows how to operate it in case of a water emergency such as a broken pipe. Turning off the flow of water quickly will help to minimize property damage.

While following these measures can help to minimize the risks of damage to your home, it is impossible to predict and prevent every scenario when severe weather strikes. If your home has been damaged by water, smoke, fire or mold, call the restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Hamilton County, of Indianapolis North and of Anderson. Our specialty trained technicians will be on site quickly to assess the damage and develop a plan of action to make your home "Like it never even happened."