Skip to main content

How to Avoid Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes aren’t just inconvenient: if they burst, just a small crack can release hundreds of gallons of water into your home, damaging carpets, floors, walls, ceilings and anything else that happens to be in the path. Even if your Homeowners Policy covers damage to your home from burst water pipes, nothing can make up for the disruption, discomfort and loss of personal items. Frozen pipes have caused millions of dollars in damage to American homes over the last decade. But they’re easily avoided by following these simple tips:

Prepare today:
• Insulate pipes in your crawl spaces and attic. These exposed pipes are the most susceptible to freezing.
• Wrap vulnerable pipes with heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables. Be sure to use products that are UL-approved, and follow manufacturers’ instructions.
• Seal leaks with caulk or insulation to keep cold air from coming in near pipes, especially around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes.

During cold weather:
• Turn off outdoor faucets and disconnect hoses.
• Keep the house heated to at least 65 degrees. (A lower temperature will not ensure that pipes inside the walls are kept above freezing.)
• Keep the door open between a heated room and an unheated room to allow warm air to circulate.
• Keep cupboard doors open below sinks to allow indoor air to circulate around the plumbing.
• Turn on faucets (both hot and cold) until they drip slowly if you have any concern about pipes freezing, especially on very cold nights.
• Identify the main water shut-off in your home and try it before you have to use it.
• Keep garage doors closed. The door inside the garage leading to the house is probably not as well insulated as an exterior door.

If you go away:
• Set the thermostat to at least 55°F.
• Have a friend or neighbor check the temperature in your house daily.
• Shut off and have a professional drain the water system if you plan to be gone more than a couple of weeks.

If a pipe freezes…

…don’t wait for it to burst. Try to thaw a frozen pipeimmediately, by introducing heat to the space around the pipe with a space heater, hair dryer, heating pad or other electric device. (DO NOT attempt to thaw a pipe with a torch or open flame.) Start from the end nearest the faucet and work your way back. If your attempts don’t succeed, call a plumber.

Handling the worst-case scenario: a burst pipe

Turn off the main water valve, while leaving the faucets open, and call your plumber. To mitigate damage, place a receptacle or plastic sheeting to catch the water; clean up all water immediately; and remove carpets and other items that could be damaged.

This simple guide will enhance your peace of mind. If you have any questions about your homeowner’s policy and what it covers my office is always available to answer your questions and provide a free consultation.

Attorney Joseph F. De Leo is a lawyer with over twenty two years experience handling personal injury and other insurance claims serving the entire greater Boston area. He can be reached at jdeleo@deleolaw.com or by visiting deleolaw.com
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Massachusetts

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Massachusetts By Joseph F. De Leo, Esq.      Many people are confused today as to the type and amount of automobile insurance coverage necessary to protect them in the event of an injury arising out of an automobile accident by an uninsured or underinsured automobile as noted by recent news stories concerning people injured by vehicles which did not have adequate insurance coverage.   This article will briefly survey the portion of your own Massachusetts automobile insurance policy which may benefit you should you be injured in an automobile accident and the types and amounts of coverage you may want to increase beyond compulsory amounts prescribed by Massachusetts law.   Future articles will review what insurance coverage and amounts are necessary should you be involved in an accident for which you are deemed liable and coverage amounts that affect damage to your automobile, property and damage to ot...
Post a Comment
Read more

About Seat Belts and Older Kids

The move from car seats to seat belts can be unsettling for parents who want to keep their children safe. Kids can move out of car seats when they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and between 8 and 12 years old, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They should always use a seat belt and sit in the rear seat for the best protection. When kids move out of a booster seat to use a seat belt exclusively, it's important to make sure they're using the belt correctly. The American Academy of Pediatrics provides guidelines for this: • A child should be tall enough to sit without slouching with his back against the vehicle seat. •The knees should be naturally bent over the car's seat with the feet hanging down or flat on the floor. • The seat belt's lap portion should sit snugly across the child's hips - not the belly. • The shoulder belt should lie across the child's chest and shoulder - not the neck or face. That's not all. Never allow a ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sharing the Road: Bicycle and Motorist Safety in Massachusetts

By Joseph F. De Leo, Esq.      With the warm weather upon us, soaring gasoline prices, increased summer traffic congestion along with many people trying to stay fit it is no surprise that there are more bicycles sharing the road with automobiles than ever before.   Unfortunately this increased interest in cycling has also brought a greater number of motor vehicle accidents involving bicycles, often with tragic results.      According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the number of Massachusetts residents who mostly rode a bicycle to work increased 80% from 2000 to 2011 from about 12,300 people to 22,000.   This is especially true in cities like Cambridge , Massachusetts where according to some estimates there were three times as many people biking on its streets in 2012 compared to ten years earlier.   In fact, according to the National Sporting Goods Association, about one in ten Massachusetts residents or approxim...
Post a Comment
Read more