Just a quick note to let everyone know that insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for water damage caused by frozen pipes when no precautions are taken (see below).
2. We (your insurance company) will not pay for loss or damage caused by
or resulting from any of the following:
.......
g. Water, other liquids, powder or molten
material that leaks or flows from plumbing, heating, air conditioning or other
equipment (except fire protective systems) caused by or resulting from freezing, unless:
(1)
You do your best to maintain heat in the building or structure; or
(2)
You drain the equipment and shut off the supply if the heat is not maintained.
With this reminder, please see this information below.
How Can I Prepare for a Frozen Pipe Disaster?
Every winter season, the pipes in your home are at risk
of damage from freezing conditions. Low temperatures can cause your water pipes
to freeze, and in some cases burst. The following tips can help you safeguard
your home before, during and after a pipe freezes.
Prevent Your Pipes
From Freezing
Disconnect all gardening hoses and
install covers on all outside faucets.
- Keep your house temperature at 68
degrees or higher, even if you're leaving the house for an extended period
of time.
- Open cabinet doors below sinks to
allow heat from the home to circulate.
- Identify the location of the main
water valve and the valve on your water heater. (Learning the location of
these valves may come in handy during an emergency.)
- Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls
and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or with heating tape. This can
prevent freezing, especially for interior pipes that run along outside
walls.
- Close all windows near water
pipes; cover or close open-air vents. Freezing temperatures combined with
wind drafts can cause pipes to freeze more frequently.
- Heat your basement and consider
weather sealing your windows.
- Insulate outside walls and
unheated areas of your home.
- If you plan to be away from home
for an extended period of time, shut off water supply valves to your
washing machine.
Monitor Freezing Pipe Conditions
- Allow a faucet to drip slightly
(lukewarm water) in order to minimize freezing.
- The first sign of freezing is
reduced water flow from a faucet.
- Check your faucets for water flow
and pressure before you go to sleep and again when you wake up.
- Check pipes around your water
meter, in unheated areas, near exterior walls and in crawl spaces.
- These tend to be vulnerable to
freezing conditions.
- Identify cold air drafts coming in
from a flue or chimney chase and caulk gaps that are near pipes.
If a Pipe Freezes
- If a faucet or pipe inside your
house freezes, you can thaw it using a good hair dryer. (For safety
purposes, avoid operating a hair dryer around standing water.)
- To thaw a frozen pipe, heat water
on the stove, soak towels in the hot water and wrap them around cold
sections of the pipes.
- When thawing a pipe, start thawing
it nearest to the faucet. Make sure the faucet is turned on so that melted
water can drip out.
If a Pipe Bursts
- Shut off water at the main valve.
- If the break is in a hot water pipe,
the valve on top of the water heater should be closed.
- Call a plumber. Keep an emergency
number nearby for quick access.
This section highlights examples of safety
precautions you can consider to help prepare yourself, others and your personal
property for winter freeze. Please recognize that a particular precaution may
not be appropriate or effective in every circumstance. We encourage you to use
your own good judgment about what's appropriate.