Home Page
  • Home
  • Get A Quote
    • AutomobileImage of right arrow
      • Auto Insurance Quote
      • Auto Quote Form (short)
    • Business & CommercialImage of right arrow
      • Commercial Auto Insurance Quote
      • General Liability Quote Form
      • Business Owners (BOP) Quote Form
      • Builders Risk
      • Workers Compensation Quote
    • Earthquake
    • Farm
    • HomeownersImage of right arrow
      • Homeowners Insurance Quote
      • Homeowner Flood Quote Form
    • Renters
    • Watercraft & Boat
  • Customer Service
    • AutomobileImage of right arrow
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Auto Policy
      • Send Declaration and Coverages Information to Lien Holder
      • Add Vehicle to Existing Auto Policy
      • Remove Vehicle from Existing Auto Policy
      • Add Driver to Existing Auto Policy
      • Remove Driver from Existing Auto Policy
      • Auto ID Card Request
    • Business & CommercialImage of right arrow
      • Request ID Card for Commercial Auto Policy
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Commercial Auto Policy
      • Add Vehicle to Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Remove Vehicle from Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Add Driver to Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Remove Driver from Existing Commercial Auto Policy
      • Request General Liability Certificate of Insurance
    • FloodImage of right arrow
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Existing Flood Insurance Coverage
      • Flood Insurance Form
    • HomeownersImage of right arrow
      • Request Declaration and Coverages for Existing Homeowners Insurance Coverage
      • Request Evidence of Insurance
    • Other
    • Renters
    • Watercraft & BoatImage of right arrow
      • Request ID Card for Watercraft Policy
      • Request Declaration and Coverages Page for Watercraft Policy
      • Add Watercraft to Existing Policy
      • Remove Watercraft from Existing Policy
      • Change Primary Operator on Existing Watercraft Policy
  • Blog
  • Make a Payment
  • Resources
    • Refer a Friend
    • Important Links
    • Insurance Glossary
  • About Us
    • About Muffley Insurance Agency
    • Location Map
    • Employee Directory
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Newsletter
postheader postheader
postheader postheader postheader
Home > Blog > When the temperature drops
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

When the temperature drops

How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Your Home

Want to know the perfect recipe for ruining your holiday season? No, it’s not the Grinch – its frozen pipes in your home. Why? Because frozen pipes can become burst pipes, and that can lead to expensive water damage and other headaches.

Still not convinced? Water damage and freezing accounted for more than 17% of home insurance losses in 2014, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The average claim? Nearly $7,200.

Sure, standard home insurance policies provide coverage for pipe bursts but that doesn’t mean you want one showing up to your big annual Christmas party. Aside from the mess, you’ll have to pay your deductible, and who wants to do that when your budget is already stretched from purchasing gifts for everyone on your list. Luckily, this is a very preventable home disaster.

Follow these helpful tips and you can stick to enjoying Frozen with your kids and not in your pipes.

Before the big chill

While the mercury has already fallen in certain parts of the U.S., there’s still time for some homeowners to get a jump on the freezing winter weather. Here are some things you can do to prevent freezing pipes even before the cold comes:

  • Insulate any exposed pipes in the attic, basement, or other unheated areas of your home. These pipes will be the most susceptible to freezing.
  • Remove, drain, and store outside hoses. If possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
  • Drain water from swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines.

When the temperature drops

  • Let your faucets drip. Running water through the pipe helps prevent pressure from building up – the main cause of burst pipes.
  • Keep your thermostat set the same temperature both day and night. Many homeowners turn down the heat at night, however, since the outside temperature is also likely dropping, it’s the perfect set-up for frozen pipes.
  • If you are going to be away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home and set it to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees.

If the unthinkable happens…

If you turn on a faucet and nothing or only a trickle comes out, you might have a frozen pipe on your hands. Don’t panic. Even at this point, you can still prevent the pipe from bursting. Simply keep the faucet running and call a plumber. In the meantime, you can try to warm the pipe with a hairdryer. Do NOT use any type of blowtorch.

If your pipes burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve immediately – do you know where your shutoff is? Then call the plumber. Shutting off the water will prevent the damage from worsening. After the situation is subdued, take pictures documenting the damage. Photo documentation can make for a smoother claims process.

This November you may have turkey and football on the brain, but don’t forget to take actions to protect your home. In case you haven’t recently, take some time to review your home insurance policy. A savvy homeowner is the best defense against home insurance disasters such as frozen pipes.

Posted 1:15 PM

Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2015

  • full coverage car insurance auto insurance(1)
  • a tree fell on your car: now what?(1)
  • car insurance(1)
  • auto insurance rates(1)
  • flood insurance(1)
  • renters insurance(1)

View Mobile Version
 
  • Mutual of Enumclaw
  • Sublimity Insurance
  • Rain and Hail LLC
  • Select Health
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Mutual of Omaha
 

HOME PAGE ABOUT US GET A QUOTE REFER A FRIEND CONTACT US

122 5th Ave W | Gooding, ID 83330 | Phone: 208.934.4781/208.934.4484

Logo
Powered by Insurance Website Builder
Social Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Blog