« Back to News Room South Carolinians Need to Protect Against Frozen Pipes and Winter Weather December 8, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Russ Dubisky, Executive Director 803-252-3455 or cell phone 803-708-5271 russd@scinsnews.com Columbia, S.C. – Friday, December 8, 2006 – With the weather forecast for temperatures to drop into the teens and twenties around South Carolina this weekend, homeowners and renters need to prevent their homes from being ruined by frozen pipes. According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, frozen plumbing which leads to burst pipes can easily produce several thousand dollars in property damage for a home and if no one is home at the time those losses can reach tens of thousands of dollars. Winter storms accounted for 7.8 percent of catastrophe losses from 1986-2005, with losses averaging more than $1 billion a year over that period. Water damage and freezing account for approximately 17 percent of all homeowners’ insurance claims. The average claim for water damage and freezing is $5,095, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Every year thousands of American families' homes are ruined and lives disrupted each winter when water pipes freeze and burst. South Carolinians might see a bigger problem than those in the North because of houses with slab foundations and water pipes running through the attic. Also, southern homeowners don't think freezing is a problem and don't bother checking the condition or location of pipes in their homes. If the temperature drops to 20 degrees or lower, you could have a problem with frozen pipes. To prepare for freezing weather, the South Carolina Insurance News Service offers the following tips: INSIDE YOUR HOME Keep the house warm. Set the thermostat for at least 65 degrees, since the temperature inside the walls, where the pipes are located, is substantially colder—a lower temperature will not keep the pipes from freezing. Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around pipes (particularly in the kitchen and bathroom.). Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space. Or drain the water system, especially if your house will be unattended during cold periods. Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water can then re-freeze, causing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof, and can contribute to ice damming. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect pipes from freezing. You may also consider insulating unfinished rooms such as garages to keep pipes from freezing. Have the heating system serviced. Furnaces, boilers and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to prevent fire and smoke damage. Check pipes. Look closely for cracks and leaks and have the pipes repaired immediately. Wrap exposed pipes with heating tape. Install an emergency pressure release valve in your plumbing system. This will protect against the increased pressure caused by freezing pipes and can help prevent your pipes from bursting. Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly. Residential fires increase in the winter, so it is important to protect your family with working alarm systems. Also, consider installing a carbon dioxide detector, since a well sealed home can trap this toxic gas. Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have to prevent pipes from bursting. Hire a licensed contractor to look for structural damage. If damage is discovered, you can have it repaired immediately rather than waiting for a more severe problem to occur. Also, ask about ways to prevent water damage resulting from snow-related flooding. Plastic coatings for internal basement walls, sump pumps and other methods can prevent flood damage to your home and belongings. OUTSIDE YOUR HOME Clean out gutters. Remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming—a condition where water is unable to drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls. Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to slow the heat transfer. The more insulation the better. Install gutter guards. Available in most hardware and home stores, “gutter guards” prevent debris from entering the gutter and interfering with the flow of water away from the house and into the ground. Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break, causing damage to your home or car, as well as injury to people on your property. Repair steps and handrails. This may prevent someone from falling and being seriously injured. Broken stairs and banisters can become lethal when covered with snow and ice. Seal cracks in holes in outside walls and foundations. Use caulking to protect water pipes and make sure that skylights and other roof openings have proper weather stripping to prevent snowmelt from seeping in. (Sources: Insurance Information Institute and Institute for Business and Home Safety) If you are going to be away for an extended period, take special care. Turn the water off and/or have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting. Also, hire someone to check your home on a regular basis. If there is a problem, it can be fixed quickly, thus lessening any damage. Activity at your home will also reduce the likelihood that it will be burglarized. Standard homeowners’ policies cover winter-related disasters such as burst pipes, ice damage and wind damage caused by weight of ice or snow. For over 30 years, the South Carolina Insurance News Service, a nonprofit organization, has been providing free insurance information to consumers and the media about property and casualty insurance issues. The News Service is funded by insurance companies doing business in South Carolina. For more information, contact the South Carolina Insurance News Service at 803-252-3455 or use our contact form. 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