Members Login
Not registered? Sign-Up!

 


Contact:
Karl Newman, President
Darrin Sanger, Communications Director     
NW Insurance Council
Phone: (206) 624-3330
Fax: (206) 624-1975
karl.newman@nwinsurance.org
darrin.sanger@nwinsurance.org

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.

###