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Frozen pipes:
a disaster you can avoid
SEATTLE - As temperatures dip below freezing levels, it's time to
start thinking about protecting your home from frozen pipes.
An average of a quarter-million families have
their homes severely damaged each winter because water pipes freeze
and burst.
"I know people who've left for a vacation and
returned home to find their floors a virtual ice rink," said Karl
Newman, president of the NW Insurance Council. "They found water
frozen solid three to six inches deep. It's tragic and it's avoidable."
An eighth-inch crack in a pipe can spew up to
250 gallons of water in as little as 24 hours. That's more than
enough to damage hardwood floors, carpet and furniture. Repairs
and clean-up costs can be enormous.
The NW Insurance Council offers these tips to
help you prevent pipes from freezing and avoid a home disaster:
- Insulate pipes in your home's garage, crawl spaces and attic.
These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing.
- Wrap pipes with heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat
cables. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing
organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
- Seal air leaks that allow cold air inside, near where pipes
are located. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and
the heat in.
- Disconnect garden hoses. Use indoor valves to shut off and drain
water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
For more information on how protect your home's
water pipes from freezing, call the NW Insurance Council and ask
for a free brochure titled No Frozen Pipes, at (800) 664-4942.
The NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, consumer-education
organization funded by member insurance companies.
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