Frozen Pipes

By Stephanie McLain, Claims Adjuster

Oh the weather outside is expensive. Hmm…I don’t think that’s how the song goes exactly. However, if you don’t take proper precautions, even if winter is your favorite season, it can quickly turn into a costly one. Your home is threaded with pipes. These pipes allow for modern living to function beautifully.

However, when cold weather comes to town, those pipes can get a little congested. Water expands as it freezes which can cause your pipes to burst and, depending on the location or severity of the freeze, can cause costly repairs to start piling up. Luckily, frozen pipes are fairly easy to prevent as long as you pay attention to the weather.

The Red Cross’s website provides these helpful tips on How to Prevent Frozen Pipes:

  • Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
  • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
  • When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe – even at a trickle – helps prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
  • If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

If you’re going to travel, be sure to have someone check on the house. Even if you do set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature, there is always the chance that the power could go out. House sitting and peace of mind are more affordable than a flooded house or all new piping.

Helpful products to look into are smart thermostats. You can control these thermostats from your phone in the event you forgot to adjust the temperature, or if the weather takes a sudden shift while you’re out of town.

In the event you do have a loss, our team is here to help you restore wholeness and assist you in your time of need.

Source:  https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html

Stephanie HeadshotAbout Stephanie

Tech enthusiast (not pro), photographer hobbyist, boy mom, animal lover, and Insurance Adjuster

When Stephanie isn’t at work she’s trying new things from food, tech, games, hair colors, etc. Stephanie and her husband of 2 years live with their 2 boys, 1 fostered cousin, 2 dogs, 1 snake, and 1 fostered bearded dragon. Her goals are to experience the best life has to offer. They like to explore as a family everything from the outdoors, new towns, new games, or even new concepts or ideas for the house.

5 Tips to Prevent Claims this Fall Season

Fall may be a cooler time of year, but it can be pretty hot for claims. Here are some quick tips on how to prevent damage to your property this fall. Be safe!

  1. Have your wood burning stove or fireplace inspected by a professional. A professional should always inspect and clean your chimney on an annual basis. Now is the time to schedule your appointment.
  2. Drain and disconnect your hoses. Before freezing temperatures arrive, please remember to drain and disconnect your hoses attached to outside faucets. Why? You can prevent a pipe burst.
  3. Dispose ashes properly. Do you have a non-combustible metal container with a tightly fitted lid to put your ashes in after burning wood? Remember to only dispose the ashes after they have completely cooled.
  4. Do not leave a fire unattended. Whether you are having a fire inside, or are burning one outside, do not leave it unattended. It just takes one ember to pop out of the fire and catch anything nearby on fire. It’s that simple: do not leave a fire unattended.
  5. Use caution when burning leaves or trash. This has to do with #4 above. Leaving fires unattended can be dangerous to your property and also your neighbor’s property if a fire gets out of control. Always check with your local community to see if trash or leaf burning is even legal in your area, especially on high wind days.

Fore more safety tips from MAX, click here. MAX’s vision of creating and sustaining wholeness is lived out by our staff dedicated to provide you WOW member service. Learn more about MAX’s insurance products and mutual aid ministries program and become a member of MAX today!