Winter weather can cause water pipes to freeze and burst if you haven’t prepared them for the cold temperatures. A frozen pipe that bursts can quickly flood your house and cause thousands of dollars in damage.
Prepare for a Freeze
Make sure you know where your home’s shut-off valve is and how to turn it on and off. If you leave town or will be gone during a freeze, consider turning your water off at the shut-off valve and draining your pipes. If you’re unsure how to drain your pipes, call a plumber. Call your electric or gas utility company to ask how to protect your water heater.
Inside Your House
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Open the cabinets under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated air to circulate around the water pipes.
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Maintain the heat in the building, especially when you’re gone for the day or away for a long time.
1) Consider maintaining the heat to a level comfortable for occupancy
2)Turning the thermostat down while away may not provide enough ambient heat to keep pipes from freezing
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Let indoor faucets drip, but don’t run a heavy stream of water.
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Find your shut-off valve
Outside Your House
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Protect faucets, outdoor pipes, and pipes in unheated areas by wrapping them with rags, newspapers, trash bags, plastic foam, or covers designed to protect outdoor faucets from freezing.
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Take the hose completely off the exterior hose bib/faucet.
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Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure the lid is on tight.
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Cover any vents around your home’s foundation.
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Drain water sprinkler supply lines.
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Drain swimming pool circulation systems.
What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze
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If a frozen pipe bursts and floods your home, turn the water off at the shut-off valve. Call a plumber for help if you can’t reach the shut-off valve or stop the leak. Don’t turn the water back on until the pipe has been repaired.
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If your policyholder has damage, they should consider the taking the following steps:
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The policyholder should consider making temporary repairs to protect the property from further damage. This would include:
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Securing the services of a plumber to repair the damage to the plumbing system.
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Removal of water to begin the drying process.
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The damage to plumbing caused by freezing is generally covered ( however, vacancy issues can lead to exclusions of coverage)
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Securing emergency services to begin the drying process is imperative to reduce further damage to the dwelling.
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Consider a mitigation vendor if water damage is severe and walls are wet
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At very least, shop-vac and use dehumidifier until help arrives.
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Keep all receipts for temporary repairs for adjuster review. Also, please keep damaged property available for inspection.
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If possible, take photos or videos of the damage before making repairs.
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Don’t make permanent repairs to the dwelling until after the adjuster has had an opportunity to inspect the loss. Permanent repair to the plumbing system is OK.