Pipes that (Usually) Freeze First


When pipes freeze, they create havoc that is time consuming and expensive.


Your home is full of all kinds of pipes, including fresh water pipes that supply your bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room, and more. These fresh water pipes are under pressure, and if they freeze up, they can burst and create a huge mess that must be cleaned up quickly.


You might have heard some say that hot water freezes faster than cold water. If you do a quick Google search, you will see all types of references to this topic. You might have seen videos of people throwing hot water up in freezing air and it freezes instantly, creating ice crystals. But no matter what you personally believe, one thing is accepted as true among many disaster restoration professionals:


Hot water pipes freeze and break faster than cold water pipes.


This statement isn’t based simply on water temperature. It’s based on the makeup of the water, and some studies show that hot water contains more dissolved gasses, and those chemical particles crystalize first.


Many restoration professionals will tell you that they have been on many water damage jobs where the hot water pipe was broken and spraying water, while the cold water pipe was fine.


And at the same time, many have experienced hot water spigots doing nothing while their cold water companions, just within inches of each other, work just fine.


There are many articles about what is called the “Mpemba” effect, that warm water freezes faster than cold water. While it makes for interesting reading, the main takeaway for you is to make sure that no pipes in your home ever freeze.


You can do this with some planning. The best solution is to make sure your pipes are wrapped with heat tape or insulation, combined with ensuring no cold drafts are allowed into walls or cavities in your home. Another preventive step to take is when the temperatures really dip into the sub-zero range, and especially if you have had pipes freeze in the past, consider allowing them to drip during extended times of not being used. Yes, this will run up your water bill a bit, but it is definitely cheaper than a devastating pipe break and resulting flooding.


But if the unthinkable does occur, and a pipe breaks and damages your home, do the right thing. Call your favorite disaster restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

The Tenacity of Soap Scum


Soap scum is an irritating by-product of cleaning, especially in tubs, showers, and sinks. It’s ironic that a product you use to clean with creates problems on surfaces.


And besides just soap buildup, what’s encased in the soap scum includes body oil, dead skin, bacteria, dirt, and more. This is why you may notice a foul odor as the soap scum gets thicker over time.


Using liquid soap instead of bar soap will hinder soap scum buildup, because bar soap contains products that tend to create a film. Wiping down surfaces in your tub, shower, and sinks after you use them also helps. And there are specialty products you can mist onto surfaces routinely that will hinder the buildup of film.


But when soap scum strikes, here are a few easy steps to follow to remove it.


Mix up equal amounts warm water and white vinegar and add a small amount (just a drop) of dish detergent. Use a spray bottle and liberally apply to the soap scum, give the solution several minutes to work, and wipe it off. Keep repeating until the soap scum is gone. The small amount of dish detergent acts as a surfactant and penetrates the soap scum, and the water/vinegar mix helps break down the elements that created the scum.


Mixing up a paste of baking soda and vinegar also works. Use about a half cup of baking soda in a small bowl, add just enough white vinegar until it becomes a paste. It will fizz for a while, and once it is done fizzing, apply to the areas you wish to treat. This is especially effective in areas such as where you leave a bar of soap and the scum is really thick.


There are some cleaning products you can purchase at your favorite department store that also work on soap scum. They are applied directly to the surface and bubble and fizz and make removal much easier.


All three of these solutions will work for you, but as with all cleaning activities, it takes time, elbow grease — aka scrubbing — to get the job done. Rinse it all off and wipe dry to really see how effective you were in removing the soap scum.


But when you really need some cleaning help and tips, do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!