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The damages caused from frozen and broken water pipes are one of the most common but least recognized catastrophe losses homeowners suffer every year. When the pipes in the walls of a house aren't properly insulated, they can and often do freeze and rupture. When a pipe bursts, the water flows, gushes from the pipe, and can turn a basement into a river within minutes. The frozen and burst pipes cause the most extreme damage when homeowners are away from their house, at work or on vacation because the plumbing can rupture and water can run unnoticed for hours and often several days.


You can take a few precautions before the next freeze that may save your home from the devastating effects of frozen and broken water pipes. Before it gets too cold be sure to:

Insulate any exposed pipes, check for water lines located in the basement, under the house, near or on exterior walls and water lines in attics. Be sure to protect pipes with northern exposures, and wrap UL-approved heat tape.
Disconnect all garden hoses and other outside water connections. Whenever possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.
Seal any leaks in your home that might allow cold air inside where pipes are located, especially in the kitchen, and bathrooms.
If your laundry washer is kept in the basement or garage, be sure to empty the contents before going to bed at night to avoid freezing the inside of the wash machine. It's also a good idea to remove the hose drain line from the pipe leading out of the house.
Buried pipes must be buried below the frost line to be safely insulated. Sprinkler systems should be drained to prevent freezing. Drain the sprinklers as the wet season begins.
Buried pipes must be buried below the frost line to be safely insulated. Sprinkler systems should be drained to prevent freezing. Drain the sprinklers as the wet season begins.
If it is impossible to adequately warm the wall containing the water pipes, then leave a trickle of water running from the faucet. Open both the hot and cold water valves. Moving water freezes much more slowly that still water. Leave a trickle running from any faucet that tends to freeze up. Leaving water running from the far end of the house also helps to protect the main water line runs.
Keep thermostats set to at least 55 degrees when the house is vacant or while you are on vacation during the winter. It might be a good idea to have someone check on the home while you are away and make sure it's staying warm enough to prevent pipe freezing.
If you plan to be away for a long period of time drain and shut off the water system completely, except indoor fire sprinkler systems there may be.
The most important thing to know is how to shut off the water supply if a pipe bursts. And be sure everyone in the family knows how to turn off the water in the event of a burst pipe because quick action will minimize damage.

If your water pipes have already frozen and burst, give us a call at (0800 955 1464) to repair or replace the damaged section of the pipe as soon as possible. Even if you plan to report the loss to your homeowner insurance, it's better to mitigate the damages and prevent a larger loss.