Frozen Pipe Bursts in Yonkers, NY Causes Flooding in Basement

1/19/2022 (Permalink)

Frozen Pipe In Yonkers, New York

Frozen pipes are a common cause of flooded basements in New York during the winter months. When pipes freeze in sub-zero temperatures and then thaw out as the temperature increases, they tend to crack and burst, causing basement leaks and flooding. A flooded basement is a homeowner’s nightmare and can lead to costly water damages if you don’t resolve it quickly.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, water damage from frozen and burst pipes accounts for 24% of homeowners insurance claims. The services of water damage restoration and cleanup professionals are crucial when ice damage renders your basement and vital utilities inoperable.

This was the case for one of SERVPRO’s clients with a frozen pipe burst in Yonkers, NY, whose home experienced extensive basement flooding. Below is an overview of the water damage restoration project steps that SERVPRO of Yonkers North experts undertook to get the residential property back to a functional condition.

1. Turning Off Water and Electricity and Locating the Flooding Source

The first thing SERVPRO professionals did when the frozen pipe burst in Yonkers, NY, was turn off the main water lines to the home until we could pinpoint the source of the pipe leak. We also shut off all the electrical systems in the home to prevent electrocution as you shouldn’t wade into standing water with the power on.

Since a frozen pipe burst in Yonkers, NY, caused the basement flooding, finding and stopping the source was fairly straightforward. We just turned off the main water shutoff valve.

2. Clearing the Flooded Area and Removing the Standing water

The next step during the frozen pipe burst in Yonkers, NY involved removing and salvaging all the items stored in the basement, including boxes, furniture, carpeting, and upholstery so that we could begin the water damage cleanup process. We also removed baseboards, insulation, and sheetrock as these materials swelled and buckled after absorbing water. After clearing the basement, we began removing the standing water through water extraction techniques.

Standing water can cause further damage if it isn't removed quickly. We utilized industrial air vacuums, and high-powered submersible pumps to extract all the standing water. These state-of-the-art tools absorb surface and standing water in no time. We conducted an additional inspection to determine if there was any remaining moisture.

3. Drying and Dehumidifying the Basement

Once we physically extracted the standing water from the basement, SERVPRO’s team of experts began the drying and dehumidification phase of the restoration project. We used dehumidifiers, powerful air movers, and fans to dry out all the materials in the basement.

These materials still contained some moisture based on our early secondary inspection. Some areas and materials were also difficult to access during the water extraction process. The drying phase is a critical stage in basement flood restoration.

Although the affected area may appear dry at this point, some materials can suffer more damage if they are not aired out thoroughly. Failure to execute this phase properly may affect the integrity of basement structures in the long run. We constantly monitored the moisture levels in the basement floor and walls through the entire process, and when everything was completely dry, we began the restoration process.

4. Basement Restoration

Unfortunately, the frozen pipe burst in Yonkers, NY, caused severe damage to the basement structures, including support beams, flooring, and furnishings. This necessitated extensive restoration processes and services. SERVPRO conducted structural repairs, including repairing the walls and floor, replacing some support beams, and replacing the drywall in the basement.

Our experts also helped with the frozen pipe repair and fixing some plumbing issues. The homeowner's heating system was also affected, so our professional conducted thorough cleaning to be safe to use. There was also some compromised electrical wiring that we replaced and fixed. The final step involves mold removal and remediation.

For frozen pipe bursts in Yonkers, NY, that cause basement flooding, it is recommendable to enlist the help of a professional quickly to avoid further damage. Basement flooding from a broken water pipe doesn’t have to instill a sense of panic and dread. The team of highly-trained and certified experts from SERVPRO helped our clients in Yonkers, NY, reduce their losses, lower restoration costs, save valuable possessions, get their basement back to normal in no time and put their minds at ease.