Preventing Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes are a common occurrence during the cold winter months and can cause thousands of dollars of water damage to your home. Understanding how to avoid frozen pipes can help save you from an unfortunate experience.

The following measures can help you avoid frozen pipes during the cold winter months:

• Adjust your thermostat a few degrees higher than normal during extremely cold days to keep heat circulating in your home. Keep your thermostat set at the same temperature during both day and night.
• During periods of extreme cold, let a trickle of water drip from your faucets to keep the water moving in the pipes.
• Be sure that all plumbing in your home is properly insulated.
• Thoroughly seal leaks around dryer vents, pipes and electrical conduits that could allow cold air inside your home. Keep all exterior doors and windows tightly shut to prevent cold drafts.
• Disconnect garden hoses, shut off and drain water from plumbing connected to outdoor spigots.
• Before leaving for vacation, replace the batteries in your thermostat and set it to at least 55 degrees. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances adjacent to exterior walls.

Should you experience a burst pipe, immediately turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in your home and contact us. We will arrange for the required plumbing repairs and water remediation that will be necessary to mitigate your damages. In the event that you then need to file an insurance claim, Gentili + Rossini Associates, Public Insurance Adjusters has the necessary experience to advocate on your behalf to ensure that you receive the proper insurance settlement for the damages sustained to your home.