Texas Department of Insurance FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 6, 2010 News Unleash Avoid Home Damage from Frozen Pipes Texas weather can modification quickly, especially in the winter. A fast-moving cold front may cause temperatures to drop below freezing inside hours. Outside pipes, pipes in unheated areas, plus pipes that run along uninsulated exterior walls can burst if the water in them freezes and expands. This can shatter pipe seals or the pipes themselves, sending water pouring thru your house. You are able avoid thousands of dollars of injury to your walls, ceilings, carpets, plus furniture by taking a few simple measures to guard your home. Prior to the Freeze · Protect taps, outside pipes, plus exposed pipes in unheated areas by wrapping them with rags, newspaper, trash bags, or plastic foam. · Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure its lid is on tight. · Cowl any vents around your home's foundation. · Drain and store water hoses indoors. · Guard outdoor electrical pumps. · Drain swimming pool circulation systems or stay the pump motor running. (Run the pump motor purely in a brief freeze. Running the motor for long periods can harm it.) · Drain water sprinkler supply lines. · Open the cupboards below sinks in your kitchen and bogs to permit heated indoor air to flow into around the water pipes. · Set your thermostat at a minimum temperature of 55 degrees, particularly when you are gone for the day or away for an extended period. · Let indoor faucets drip; it is not necessary to run a stream of water. · Make sure you know where your home's shut-off valve is and how to turn it on plus off. · If you allow city, think about turning off your water at the shut-off valve while taps are running to drain your pipes. Create certain you turn the faucets off prior to you switch the shut-off valve back on. · If you drain your pipes, contact your electric or gas utility company for instructions on protecting your water heater. If Your Pipes Freeze · If a pipe bursts and floods your home, turn the water off at the shut-off valve. Call a plumber for help if you are able't find the broken pipe or if it's inaccessible. Do not turn the water keep on until the pipe has been repaired. · If the pipe hasn't burst, thaw it out with an electrical heating pad, hair dryer, pc space heater, or towel soaked with hot water. Apply heat by slowly moving the heat supply toward the coldest spot on the pipe. Never concentrate heat in one spot for the reason that cracking ice can shatter a pipe. Flip the faucet on plus let it run till the pipe is thawed and water pressure returns to normal. · Do not use a blowtorch or other open-flame device. They are fire risks plus carbon monoxide exposure risks. If You Have a Loss · Contact your insurance agent or corporate promptly. Follow up as soon as potential with a written claim to shield your rights below Texas' prompt-payment law. · Review your coverage. Nearly all householders and renters policies pay for property repair. Additionally, nearly all policies pay for debris removal and for additional living expenses if you've got to move briefly since of damage to your home. If you are able't obtain your policy, ask your agent or corporate for a copy. · Owners policies can require you to make temporary repairs to protect your property from extra damage. Your policy covers the price of here repairs. Keep all receipts plus damaged property for the adjuster to inspect. If possible, take photos or videos of the damage prior to producing repairs. Don't create permanent repairs. An insurance corporate may deny a claim if you create permanent repairs before an adjuster inspects the damage. · Most householders policies do not cowl loss caused by freezing pipes while your home is unoccupied unless you used affordable care to take care of heat in the building; shut off the water offer; and drain water from plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems. Questions? If you have queries regarding insurance, call TDI's Client Help Line toll-free: 1-800-252-3439 or visit the TDI web site: www.tdi.state.tx.us. Assistance is available in each English and Spanish.
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Texas weather may change quickly, particularly in the winter. A fast-moving cold front can cause temperatures to drop below freezing inside hours. Out of doors pipes, pipes in unheated areas, plus pipes which run along uninsulated exterior walls may burst if the water in them freezes plus expands. This may shatter pipe seals or the pipes themselves, sending water pouring through your house. You are able avoid thousands of bucks of damage to your walls, ceilings, carpets, plus furniture by ...
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