It’s very important to prevent frozen pipes in winter. Homeowners insurance claims as a result of frozen pipes can be very expensive. We get several calls with claims about frozen pipes in the winter, so we want to make sure you know what to do to prevent them. In this blog post, we will discuss the issue with frozen pipes with the help of New York Central Mutual.
First off, do you know why frozen pipes are such an exposure? When water begins to freeze, it expands. The expansion can cause the pipe to burst. You may not even know that you have a burst pipe until either the house warms up when heat is turned on or the weather turns towards spring. If the water is not frozen, it will leak into your home and cause potentially significant amounts of damage.
Water claims can be extremely costly. That is why it’s very important to prevent frozen pipes.
Why do your pipes freeze? When the temperature drops below freezing, the water running within your home is at risk of freezing. The pipes most at risk for freezing are those that run through the unheated parts of your home including the basement, attic and garage. The temperature threshold to watch out for is 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
How can you prevent frozen pipes? First off, you need to regulate your home’s temperature to keep your pipes warm. Second, consider adding insulation where it’s needed. Lastly, you can leave your faucet dripping on especially cold nights. It will prevent freezing but keep in mind that this is a temporary solution.
What should you do if your pipes freeze? Regardless of the steps you take, it is possible that your pipes may freeze. If that happens, start by opening cabinet doors to get warm air circulating around the pipes. Or use a hairdryer or heating pad to warm the pipes.
What should you do if a pipe does burst? It is the policy holder’s duty to prevent further damage, so this means that you need to act as quickly as possible. You’ll need to shut off water service immediately to the building. You’ll then need to get the clean up process going quickly and dry out the area to start to prevent things like mold. Move any belongings in the affected area to a dry area or at least above the water. Take photos along the way that you can share with your claims adjuster if necessary. Call your insurance agent who can provide additional advice or help you determine if it makes sense to submit a claim.
To read NYCM’s entire blog post on frozen pipes, click here.
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