Winter Power Outages & Water Damage: How to Protect Your Oklahoma Home Before the Next Freeze
Oklahoma winter weather can create two emergencies at the same time: a power outage and a plumbing failure.
Ice, snow, high winds and extreme cold can interrupt electrical service. When the power goes out, furnaces, heat pumps and other heating systems may stop operating. As the temperature inside a home or business falls, plumbing in exterior walls, attics, garages, crawlspaces and other vulnerable areas can begin freezing.
A frozen pipe may not immediately look like a major problem. But as water freezes, pressure can build inside the plumbing system. A damaged pipe may begin leaking—or release a large amount of water once temperatures rise and the pipe thaws.
That is why winter preparation should involve more than insulating a few pipes.
You need a plan for keeping your property warm when the electricity goes out.
Bulldog Restoration provides 24/7 water damage restoration in Oklahoma City (https://www.405dryfast.com/oklahoma-city-water),
Edmond and surrounding Oklahoma communities for frozen pipes, burst plumbing lines, flooding and other winter water emergencies.
The Connection Between Power Outages and Frozen Pipes
During normal winter weather, your heating system helps protect plumbing throughout the building.
During an extended power outage, that protection can disappear.
Temperatures may begin dropping in:
● Exterior walls
● Attics
● Crawlspaces
● Garages
● Utility rooms
● Mechanical rooms
● Under sinks
● Areas around exterior hose connections
● Vacant rooms
● Portions of commercial buildings with limited heat
The longer a building remains without heat during extremely cold weather, the greater the concern becomes.
That makes backup power one of the most useful winter-preparedness investments a property owner can consider.
Consider a Whole-House Standby Generator
A permanently installed standby generator can provide automatic backup power when utility service fails.
Depending on the generator’s capacity and how the electrical system is configured, backup power may be able to operate important systems such as:
● Heating equipment
● Well pumps
● Sump pumps
● Refrigerators and freezers
● Selected lighting
● Security systems
● Communications equipment
● Medical equipment
● Other critical electrical circuits
A properly sized standby generator can also help keep the heating system operating, reducing the likelihood that indoor temperatures will fall far enough to threaten plumbing.
Standby generators should be properly sized and installed by qualified professionals in accordance with applicable electrical, fuel and manufacturer requirements.
A Portable Generator Can Also Be Valuable
Not every homeowner needs or wants a permanent whole-house generator.
A properly sized portable generator can provide emergency power for selected equipment during an outage.
Depending on its output and the equipment involved, homeowners may use portable backup power for refrigerators, freezers, lighting, certain heating equipment and other essential loads.
Portable-generator safety is extremely important.
According to the CDC’s generator safety guidance (https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/psa-toolkit/use-a-generator-safely.html),
portable generators should be operated outside and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and vents.
Never operate a portable generator inside a house, garage, basement, carport, enclosed porch or other enclosed or partially enclosed space.
Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and colorless gas that can cause serious illness or death.
The CDC also recommends battery-operated or battery-backup carbon monoxide detectors when using generators or other fuel-burning equipment.
A portable generator should never simply be connected directly to a home’s electrical system through an improvised connection. If you want a generator to supply household circuits, talk with a qualified electrician about an appropriate transfer switch or other approved installation.
Don’t Wait Until an Ice Storm to Test Your Generator
A generator sitting in the garage doesn’t provide much protection if it won’t start.
Before winter:
● Start and test the generator.
● Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule.
● Check oil and other required fluids.
● Inspect extension cords and connections.
● Determine which equipment you intend to power.
● Know the generator’s rated capacity.
● Have an appropriate fuel-storage plan.
● Make sure everyone who may operate it understands safe operation.
● Test carbon monoxide detectors.
● Have flashlights and batteries readily available.
Do this before temperatures fall.
The middle of an ice storm is a terrible time to discover that a generator hasn’t been started in two years.
Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is
This may be one of the simplest ways to limit a major winter water loss.
Every homeowner and responsible adult in the house should know:
Where is the main water shutoff, and how do I turn it off?
The same principle applies to commercial properties.
Facility managers and maintenance personnel should know the locations of important water shutoffs before an emergency occurs.
If a pipe ruptures, every minute that water continues flowing can increase the amount of affected flooring, drywall, insulation, cabinets, ceilings, contents and other materials.
Consider clearly labeling the shutoff and keeping the necessary tool nearby if one is required.
Protect Vulnerable Plumbing Before Temperatures Drop
Before freezing weather arrives, inspect the portions of your plumbing system most exposed to cold temperatures.
Pay particular attention to pipes located near exterior walls and in unheated spaces.
Depending on the property, preparation may include:
● Insulating exposed plumbing
● Disconnecting garden hoses
● Protecting exterior faucets
● Sealing obvious cold-air openings around plumbing penetrations
● Opening sink cabinet doors during extreme cold so warmer indoor air can circulate around plumbing
● Maintaining adequate indoor heat
● Allowing vulnerable faucets to drip during appropriate freezing conditions
● Knowing how to shut off exterior water supplies when applicable
The National Weather Service’s cold-weather guidance (https://www.weather.gov/okx/extremecoldpns)
also recommends keeping heat operating, protecting vulnerable pipes and knowing how to shut off the main water supply.
What If the Power Goes Out and You Don’t Have a Generator?
Your first priority is keeping people safe.
If the house begins getting cold, conserve the heat already inside. Close doors to rooms that don’t need to be occupied and concentrate everyone in a smaller portion of the house when practical.
Wear multiple loose layers of clothing rather than relying on one heavy layer.
Keep these items available:
● Warm clothing
● Hats and warm socks
● Blankets
● Sleeping bags
● Battery-powered lighting
● Charged power banks
● Battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio
● Bottled water
● Shelf-stable food
● Necessary medications
Never Use an Oven to Heat Your Home
Do not use a gas range or oven to heat your home.
Do not bring charcoal grills, camping stoves or other outdoor fuel-burning equipment inside for heat.
Carbon monoxide can accumulate without you seeing or smelling it.
Use only heating equipment specifically intended and approved for indoor use, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding ventilation, clearances and operation.
If your home becomes dangerously cold and you cannot safely maintain heat, relocate to a properly heated location or emergency shelter rather than using an unsafe heating method.
Space Heaters Need Space
Portable space heaters can be useful when properly used, but they can also create a fire hazard.
Keep combustible materials away from the heater and follow the manufacturer’s required clearances. Place the heater on a stable surface and do not leave it operating unattended.
Never use a damaged heater or extension cord.
Remember that a winter emergency can quickly change from a water-damage problem to a fire-damage problem if temporary heating equipment is used improperly.
What Should You Do If You Think a Pipe Has Frozen?
One warning sign is turning on a faucet and receiving little or no water when water service is otherwise available.
Never use an open flame to thaw a frozen pipe.
Safer methods may include an electric heating pad, hair dryer, appropriately positioned portable heater or towels warmed with hot water.
If you cannot locate the frozen area or safely thaw it, contact a qualified plumber.
Continue watching the plumbing even after temperatures begin warming.
A frozen pipe can be damaged without immediately releasing visible water. The leak may become apparent as the ice inside the pipe thaws.
The Thaw Can Be When the Real Water Damage Begins
This is something Oklahoma homeowners should understand.
The coldest part of the storm isn’t necessarily when you’ll discover the water loss.
Imagine a plumbing line freezing overnight.
The pipe cracks, but the ice temporarily restricts water flow.
Temperatures rise the following afternoon.
The ice melts.
Suddenly, water begins flowing through the damaged pipe.
If nobody is home—or the damaged plumbing is hidden inside a wall—water may spread throughout the building before anyone realizes what’s happening.
That is one reason homeowners should inspect their property carefully following a hard freeze.
Look for These Signs After a Freeze
After temperatures rise, walk through the property and look for anything unusual:
● Reduced water pressure
● Dripping or running sounds
● Water stains
● Wet drywall
● Damp carpet
● Buckled flooring
● Swollen baseboards
● Moisture underneath cabinets
● Water around plumbing fixtures
● Ceiling discoloration
● Unexplained musty odors
If something doesn’t look right, investigate it quickly.
If a Pipe Bursts, Shut the Water Off
If you discover active water flowing from a broken plumbing line and it is safe to do so, shut off the appropriate water supply.
Be extremely cautious around electricity.
Do not enter standing water when electrical equipment, outlets, appliances or energized wiring may be involved.
Once the water source has been controlled, professional water extraction and drying may be necessary.
Bulldog Restoration provides 24/7 water damage restoration in Oklahoma City (https://www.405dryfast.com/oklahoma-city-water),
including water extraction, moisture detection and structural drying.
Removing Visible Water Is Only the Beginning
One of the biggest mistakes after a broken pipe is assuming the problem is solved once the floor looks dry.
Water can travel into:
● Wall cavities
● Insulation
● Subflooring
● Wood framing
● Cabinets
● Flooring systems
● Ceilings
● Adjacent rooms
Professional moisture detection can help determine how far the water traveled.
Affected materials can then be evaluated and an appropriate structural-drying plan established.
Commercial buildings may require a considerably larger response. Bulldog Restoration provides commercial water damage restoration in Oklahoma City (https://www.405dryfast.com/commercial-water-damage-restoration-okc)
for businesses, schools, healthcare properties, multifamily buildings, offices, warehouses and other commercial facilities.
For significant losses affecting large areas, multiple units or substantial portions of a facility, learn more about Bulldog Restoration’s large-loss water damage restoration services in Oklahoma (https://www.405dryfast.com/large-loss-water-damage-restoration-okc).
Businesses Need a Winter Power-Outage Plan Too
Winter preparation isn’t just for homeowners.
Commercial facilities can experience significant losses when power failures affect heating systems, plumbing, sprinkler systems, mechanical equipment or critical operations.
Before winter, facility managers should consider documenting:
● Main water shutoff locations
● Fire-sprinkler system information
● Emergency utility contacts
● Generator procedures
● Fuel requirements
● Critical electrical loads
● Emergency contractor information
● Building access procedures
● Insurance contacts
● Employee notification procedures
● Areas containing freeze-sensitive plumbing
For larger facilities, knowing what must remain powered during an extended outage should be part of the emergency plan well before the first winter storm.
Prepare Before Oklahoma’s Next Winter Storm
Winter water damage can happen quickly, but preparation can reduce the risk.
Before freezing weather arrives:
Protect your plumbing. Know where your water shutoff is. Have a backup-power plan. Know how you’ll safely stay warm if electricity is lost. And know who you’re going to call if a pipe breaks.
If your home or commercial property experiences a frozen pipe, burst water line, flooding or winter water damage, Bulldog Restoration provides 24/7 emergency response throughout Oklahoma City, Edmond and surrounding Oklahoma communities.
Bulldog Restoration
Water Damage Restoration • Water Extraction • Structural Drying • Commercial Large-Loss Restoration
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