Winter Weather Worries in Lawrence, KS

10/28/2022 (Permalink)

If you live where temperatures sink below freezing level, you are at risk for frozen pipes and ice dams, which can create major disasters at your Lawrence home or property. Frozen pipes often occur when they are exposed to the cold weather, such as those outside your house, or in cold areas such as basements, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets. A frozen pipe can burst at the point where the ice blockage inside the pipe is located, but typically the rupture is caused by the backflow pressure between the water source and the blockage. Here are a few steps that you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing:

• Be sure to completely drain water from swimming pools and sprinkler lines, as well as outside hoses.
• Open kitchen cabinets to let warm air near the plumbing.
• When the weather is extremely cold, let water drip from faucets that may come from exposed pipes.
• Keep your heat set to the same temperature both day and night.

Ice dams can become a major problem during the snowy season. They form when heated air melts roof snow downward into water dammed behind still frozen ice. When the trapped water cannot safely flow or run into the gutter system, it can backflow under the roof’s shingles and into the structure’s interior areas, as well as causing gutters and shingles to move or fall. Icicles can be an indicator of an ice dam according to Travelers.com. To spot ice dams inside, “check for water stains or moisture in your attic or along the ceiling of exterior walls of your Lawrence house. Water stains or moisture may be an indication that an ice dam has formed and water has penetrated the roof membrane.” Removing the ice dam as soon as possible is vital to helping prevent damage to your property and can be done using heated cables, a roof shovel, or calcium chloride ice melter.

If winter weather causes water damage to you and your insured’s property, SERVPRO of Lawrence/Ottawa professionals are only a call away 24/7, ready to restore to pre loss condition.

Smoke Alarms: Helping Save Lives in Clinton, KS

10/14/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke Alarms save Lives

        Smoke Alarms save lives when properly installed and maintained, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In Lawrence homes, smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and on every level, including the basement and at the top of the stairs. In office and commercial environments in Lawrence, check your state requirements or contact your local Fire Marshall to help ensure all codes are met.

        Test smoke alarms monthly using the test button. Smoke alarms with non-replaceable batteries need the entire smoke alarm unit replaced every ten years. Other alarms need batteries replaced every year, and the unit replaced every ten years. If the alarm chirps signaling a low battery, take the proper steps to replace the unit or the batteries immediately. Never disable or remove the battery from an alarm. Almost half of fires where smoke alarms were present but did not activate had missing or disconnected batteries (NFPA).

        In larger Lawrence commercial facilities, hard wired or wireless smoke alarms offer benefits such as not needing to be tested as often and activating throughout the entire building if smoke is detected in just one area (NFPA).

      If you need help installing, testing or changing the batteries in your smoke alarms, contact your local fire department, an electrician or the American Red Cross.

    Be sure your home or workplace has a fire emergency plan in place and conduct regular fire drills.