Winter is upon us once again and with that, freezing temperatures, winter storms, and wind chills that can make a snowman shiver. On days where the temperatures plummet below freezing for more than a day, it can result in pipes freezing in your home or business. These silent, destructive disasters often result in extensive property damage to your home or business.
Pipe Freezes happen when copper, iron, steel, PVC, ABS and Nylon (PEX) pipes that carry water are exposed to freezing temperatures. This happens more often when there is a power outage or extreme temperature, especially when the freezing temperatures are combined with wind. When temperatures drop below freezing for sustained periods that last days, weeks or longer, the plumbing systems in your home or business become more vulnerable to freezing.
When the freezing of pipes occurs, it stops the flow of water through the pipes. This causes the pipes to either burst and or swell. Metal and PVC pipes often burst and once they thaw, water escapes the system. Nylon pipes (often referred to as PEX), swell, but do not usually burst, however, if they freeze near are a crimping ring or union, the ring or union will become loose or pop off and water can escape the system.
The most vulnerable of the plumbing systems are hose bibs (sometimes referred to as spickets). Hose bibs should be turned off by an inside valve prior to winter and the outside valve left open to allow water still in the pipe to drain on its own. If your hose bib does not have an interior shut off valve, it would behoove you to make sure and hove one installed, because when a hose bib does freeze, the pipe usually splits on the inside of the house. Even, no-freeze hose bibs can result in a freezing and bursting of the pipe connected to it.
Extreme cold temperatures, coupled with high wind chills frequently results in a pipe freeze, even on newer, well insulated homes where the heat seems to be working fine. Vulnerable baseboard heating systems use ¾” thin-walled copper piping with aluminum heating elements. These pipes generally run along exterior walls where there is more of a likelihood of frigid air affecting the pipes. This is often exacerbated when a house such as a Bi-Level/Raised Ranch or Split level has cantilevered upper exterior walls with soffits. Pipes are often run through these soffits and if poorly insulated, they will be more vulnerable to freezing and bursting. Very often, Domestic water pipes are run through them as well along the exterior kitchen and or bathroom walls. When baseboard heating pipes and elements freeze up, very often, your boiler will shut down the zone or shut down the boiler all together for safety reasons. You don’t even realize that a pipe had frozen or burst because the water in it is still frozen. You may only fell a loss of heat, which prompts you to call an HVAC tech. Very often these pipes freeze and burst and eventually (at the time of the burst or when the pipes thaw out) a significant volume of water flows out, escaping the system, causing damages to your home or business and the only way to shut off the water is to either shut off the affected heating zone of shut off the boiler altogether. Obviously, doing either results in a loss of heat, which can result in the freezing of more pipes around your home. Having electric hydronic radiator space heaters handy in times of emergencies like that is very useful.
Additionally, there are many domestic water pipes, (usually ½” or more) throughout a home that supply water to sinks, tubs, showers, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, Boilers, hose bibs, sprinkler systems, etc.… Some buildings have cast iron baseboards or radiators. All of these systems are vulnerable to freezing and can result in the escape of water in your home or business.
All too often, we have a winter storm with heavy winds or heavy snow and or ice that knocks out power for days or longer. Sometimes the power goes off for a very short while, but your boiler fails to turn back on. Either way, this may result in a whole house freeze, especially, if you are away from the house or business for a period of time. You may or may not realize a freeze up has occurred right away and if you do, you need to take action immediately by turning off the water to the house. If you do not know where to find the main shut off, call a neighbor or the fire department. Sometimes, you may not find out until you come home and see water pouring from the exterior walls and doors of your home. At this point, you are already in the middle of a disaster. Make sure to shut the water off to the house immediately. Turn off the main circuit breaker to the home (as long as it has not gotten wet) to prevent water induced arching of electrical circuits. If the circuit breaker is wet, call the fire department of utility company to have it shut off.
Water has the ability to be devastating to a home or business. Water travels throughout the floors, down throughout ceilings and walls causing damage to everything it touches, ruining hardwood flooring, insulation in walls and ceiling, drywall and plaster, finish trim, cabinetry, appliances, and personal property. It can negatively affect everything it touches. I’ve adjusted numerous claims and found wood floors standing on end, not being able to open doors, collapsed drywall and plaster, windows and doors so swollen they will no longer open and all sorts of personal property destroyed. I’ve even adjusted homes where everything was covered in ice, because the pipes burst and thawed and then everything refroze. It is truly devastating for a homeowner or businessowner to walk into their home or business and find a water disaster. People often think that a fire is the worst thing that can happen to your home. Although this is true of a total loss, over 75% of fires result in repairable losses, the fact is, in most cases, fire and smoke cause damages to less of the structure than the water used to extinguish the fire, which more often causes the most significant damage throughout the structure.
Pipe freeze events are usually covered on most policies of insurance in most cases (provided you maintained heat and or winterized the building prior to the loss. Your insurance company may demand proof of heat maintenance such as utility bills.)
If you have sustained damage to your home or business as the result of a freezing event, please contact us for a free consultation. Unfortunately, your insurance company does not have your best interest in mind when they are estimating your loss. It is a sad fact that insurance companies hire adjusters to work for them who minimize the value of your claim, while maximizing their profits. It only makes sense to have an adjuster on your side who works for you. At Cornerstone Adjusting, LLC, we advocate on your behalf in order to provide you with the most equitable settlement possible.
At Cornerstone Adjusting, LLC, our adjusters are experienced claims professionals who have worked for the insurance companies and we know their tactics. We service all of New York State and we are centrally located in the Hudson Valley region.
Don’t let the insurance company control the outcome of your claim, because unlike the insurance company, we really are on your side.
Call Cornerstone Adjusting, LLC today for a free consultation. (845)541-5000
Cornerstone Adjusting, LLC is a veteran owned company.