Winters Freeze
As we head into the middle of the winter months it’s extremely important that you pay attention to your pipes. The world famous Farmers Almanac® has forecast a very cold winter. With the extreme cold brings the possibility of frozen pipes in homes and businesses. State Farm ® insurance reports that the average cost for water claims is on the rise – that the average cost per claim – approx $15,000 – is up 33% from 2007 to 2008. While most insurance carriers cover damage done by broken pipes, avoidance is always the best option. So what can be done?
Here are some simple, but practical ideas that could help protect those pipes during this cold winter;
- Run small amount of both HOT and Cold water. Keeping a small amount of both the hot and cold water running through the pipes will help keep them from freezing.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around piping.
- Plan ahead and know where the water shut off valve is – not only around the fixtures, but the MAIN valve coming into the house. If a pipe burst in a wall, you can save major damage from occurring if you know where the main valve is and can get to it quickly.
- This may be obvious – but proper insulation on the pipes is also very helpful.
- For homes that have pipes in a open crawl space, be sure to close off the vents to the crawl space.
- Install a whole house water leak detection system.
- If you are going to be gone for extended periods of time, either have someone check the home frequently, or have the lines professionally drained prior to leaving.
Hopefully this gave you some ideas on how to protect yourself from Frozen pipes this winter. We welcome other great thoughts and ideas – please post them here!
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