For Tanerica Joseph of Round Rock, Texas, the great Texas storm of February 2021 meant more than just some chilly nights and the need for a heavy snowplow. The freezing temperatures outside made the pipes inside of her apartment burst. It is not uncommon for the water inside pipes to freeze in very cold weather. When this happens, a blockage is created in the pipe. This is so dangerous because the frozen water causes water pressure to build up behind it. The pressure keeps on building until the frozen water can’t take it anymore and has nothing to do but burst.
Freezing temperatures do not always lead to frozen pipes. In colder climates, pipes are often built on the inside of the unit’s insulation to protect from this issue. While this is not foolproof, it does help a lot. But in warmer climates, pipes are usually built outside of the insulation, making the occasional cold spell a little more cause for concern. Make sure to check out your pipes and decipher which category they fall into.
But what do burst pipes have to do with indoor air quality? Simple. The large amounts of water that explode out of these pipes lead to minor or major indoor flooding. While that is a problem in and of itself, the toxic part of it all is the mold that will inevitably form in that area. Where there is unchecked moisture, there is mold. Liters of water flooding the inside of a home are likely to create mold growth in the immediate area and many surrounding areas in the building. Intense moisture in one area of a structure can affect the entire thing.
Oftentimes we take the smell of mold for granted. But if we trained our noses to actually notice the smell, we would become a lot more cognizant of this pesky toxin when walking into a basement or dark, humid area. After Tanerica Joseph’s home suffered flooding from her burst pipes, her family began to suffer from allergies, headaches, and nausea. Unfortunately, by the time they realized that these symptoms were a result of their moisture problem, it was too late to fix the issue themselves. They had to relocate to stay safe.
Most people associate mold with warm seasons and climates. But the truth is that the freezing weather brings along its own indoor moisture issues. How to prevent this? The first step is always awareness. Make it your mission to get to know your indoor piping system. Are they inside or outside your home’s insulation? If you can’t tell, speak to your home’s contractor or previous owners for more information. If your pipes are outside of the insulation and there is a potential for freezing, there are ways to prevent bursting. For one, you can warm it up yourself. Wrap the pipe in insulating material or simply heat it up with a blow-dryer or space heater. This way, the water in the pipe will remain fluid, and bursting won’t be a problem. Alternatively, you can turn off the water during the night (when temperatures drop the most) and assure that no rushing water will be building up.
If, despite your efforts, the pipe does freeze and burst, make sure to call a professional water damage company IMMEDIATELY. Water in high volumes is not something to be left alone until you get around to it. As we’ve seen, the damage can be severe and far-reaching if left alone even just a little too long.
*For water damage or mold remediation company recommendations, see our “Recommended Professionals” page.*
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