When frozen pipes occur they can cause a lot of damage. The question is, are you responsible for the cost to repair the damage or will insurance cover it?
Does Your Insurance Cover Frozen Pipes?
Once upon a time many insurance companies did cover damage that occurred due to frozen plumbing. This has changed over the past couple of years. The reason insurance policies may no longer cover these occurrences is due likely to the several deep freezes we’ve experienced over the past couple of winters.
The number one thing you’ll want to do is check your insurance policy. Many times if an insurance company will cover frozen pipes there are a whole lot of conditions that you would have had to meet to show you took appropriate steps to prevent frozen plumbing from occurring.
What You Can Do to Protect Your Home
Whether your insurance company will cover damage or not, it’s a good idea to take precautions to protect your home. Here are some things you can do to prevent your plumbing from freezing over the winter months.
- Keep your thermostat set at 65 degrees or higher
- Open indoor cabinets (especially those located along an outside wall) to let the warm air surround your pipes
- Insulate pipes that are affected most by the cold air
- If you’re leaving your home on vacation for an extended period consider turning the water off, or leave taps slowly dripping and ensure your furnace is working and your thermostat is turned on.
- Make sure that you have had your heating equipment checked annually.
- Today’s smart thermostats can be programmed to contact your cell phone if the temperature dips in your home. That way you will be able to take corrective action before damage is done.
Our team of heating experts can help ensure that your furnace and thermostat is working correctly. This can help you avoid plumbing disasters, especially if you plan to vacation during the winter. Contact the team at P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling to have your heating system checked and maintained.
