Period of frost causes pipes to burst 

 

13.1.2010

The prolonged period of freezing weather has increased the number of burst pipes in Finland. Reports of burst water pipes occurred evenly across all parts of the country during Christmas and New Year. Fixing burst pipes and defrosting frozen ones has caused a logjam in some areas. Problems caused by frozen pipes are expected to escalate when the outside temperature rises rapidly.

- It is advisable to keep an eye on properties in order to prevent damage. This is particularly important when the building is left empty e.g. for a holiday, says Business Director Pekka Koskinen of Lassila & Tikanoja’s damage repair services.

During freezing weather, owners should perform an overall inspection of their property before departing on holiday. They should check that the heating is on everywhere and that the temperature is sufficiently high. Outside water outlets should be emptied and closed where possible.

- If the property has a problem location related to pipes freezing and this has not been fixed, a good way to prevent the pipe from freezing is to leave a water tap dripping slowly. However, the problematic pipe should be insulated immediately after the spring thaw, Koskinen says.

On a year-round basis, various types of water leakages represent the greatest threat to properties. Water damage due to carelessness, technical problems or freezing lead to substantial financial damage. L&T alone fixed more than 1,500 cases of water damage in the capital area last year.