Hello, everyone, my name is Charles McShan with Century 21 Universal.
Welcome to my first blog post. The topic for this blog is the’ Winter of 2018 and its possible effect on homeowners. I chose this topic because 2017 was a lousy weather year for the United States. Moving forward, it is now December 15th, 2025. I will attempt to update one of my earlier blog posts. In the Chicagoland area and elsewhere where it snows during winter months, water pipes buried beneath city streets can freeze and crack, sending gallons of water onto the streets. Every town has a water department that must address this issue year-round, especially during the winter months.
When the temperature drops below freezing, the local water departments are very busy fixing and replacing broken water pipes day and night. They do this because water is the source of life. We need clean, safe water for household use. When water or sewer pipes burst outside the homes on the street, it is the local government’s job to repair or replace the broken section of the water/sewer pipe. Once the water is delivered to the home, it is the Homeowner’s or Landlord’s responsibility to repair any water or sewer pipes. That is the main subject of this blog post. Let’s get into it.
Article Guide
What causes water pipes to freeze and burst during the winter months?
Plumbers have told me stories of frozen water pipes. They say that water expands as it freezes. This icy water puts tremendous pressure on the lines, and if they burst, it can cause significant property damage. Here in Chicago, many apartment buildings have kitchen water pipes near exterior walls, which are prone to freezing. Other areas where pipes are prone to freezing include inside closed cabinets, crawl spaces, attics, and outdoor areas. Regarding the outdoor areas, drain the water pipes connected to outdoor sprinkler systems or water hoses. If there is an external water valve, please turn it off and let the excess water drain out.
If your indoor pipes freeze, what should you do to fix the problem?
Now, if sub-zero weather has caused your pipes to freeze, there are many options to fix the situation. The first method is a preventive Chicago remedy. When it is 10 degrees or less, Chicagoans turn on the faucet in the kitchen and bathrooms and let them run at a trickle. Some people say that it works; others say it does not. Also, open the kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate through the pipes. And for you, Landlords out there, some of you do not like to give your tenants a lot of heat. Some only warm the units to comply with city codes. In that case, you must decide whether to increase your budget a little more by keeping the heat on or to break your budget when your pipes burst, and you have an enormous repair bill.
Now, if a particular section of the pipe freezes, try to warm it up with a hairdryer or a space heater, if you can reach it. Please do not use an open-flame device for your safety and for everyone else in the home. Once the water starts melting, it will soon begin to flow through the pipes again. Here is a link about frozen pipes. Feel free to use it and always contact a licensed professional for the best advice. Remember to keep your eye on the weather report. We need to maintain our safe drinking supply.
Conclusion
Looking back, I can reflect on my very first blog post. It was a workin progress..I have just updated ot, just like I will surely update all other earlier blog posts. Different parts of the country get their extreme weather in the Summer and Fall; in our area, we usually get our bad weather mainly in the Winter, and if we prepare, we can endure the cold and keep our hot and cold water flowing. Once again, I want to thank you for reading my first blog. (And if you are rereading it in the year 2022, and now 2025. thanks again) Hopefully, I will get better as I go along.
Take care for now, and please let me hear from you.
Sincerely,
Charles McShan
312 9143678
cmac2121@yahoo.com
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