The New Year brought with it an intense cold snap in the Hudson Valley that was tough on both residents and their homes. The harsh temperatures reached as low as 2 degrees below zero in early February, causing a rash of pipe breaks in the region that left houses flooded.
The primary concern with water is that it continues to spread causing what is known as “secondary damage.” Hardwood floors can buckle, batt insulation can compress making it less effective, and structural framing can warp and deteriorate. 
Stagnant water can also cause mold damage among other health risks if not dealt with immediately.
Thankfully, Peak Construction was available around the clock for emergency assistance. Our skilled mitigation team led by Jason Giannoni was on the job seven days a week responding to dozens of insurance claims in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Ulster, Westchester and Rockland counties. Shortly after a call came in, Peak was on the job to extract standing water and excess moisture before it could spread.
Along with a variety of air movers and dehumidifiers, in the past year Peak Construction has also started using heat drying technology in restoration efforts. In cases where damaged homes have no heat, heat drying equipment can raise the temperature while speeding up the process in the same way that a hair dryer using hot air instead of cold speeds up the process of drying hair.
Pipe breaks have a tendency to occur in heating lines. Many of the problems arise when Homeowners go out of town and turn down their heat trying to save money on oil. However, this attempt to cut costs while you’re away can result in headaches upon your return. If you keep your thermostat above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, especially during the cold winter months, you are likely to avoid all the damage that can result from a frozen pipe.