WINTER'S BACK AND SO ARE FROZEN PIPES

It’s that time of year again. We are slipping and sliding all over the roads. Our winter attire has us bundled up and made us immobile like little Randy from A Christmas Story.

The winter wonderland may be serene outside but inside pipes are bursting like party poppers on New Year’s Eve. In the colder months your homes pipes are at risk. Water damage is among the most common causes of insurance claims. In April of 2014 2013 claimsjournal.com stated that Illinois was ranked number 6 among the top ten states with the most water-related claims as reported by State Farm. This year alone 8,100 water-related claims were reported to State Farm just in Illinois. Frozen pipes winter greatly can have great impact on this total.

In general, water damage from a burst pipe can be covered by a standard homeowners or commercial insurance policy. Something you may run into is that some policies require the insured to maintain a certain temperature in buildings and homes while others may require homeowners to have a working alarm system in the event the heat turns off.​ Though your company may cover the water damage left behind they will not covered the damaged pipe itself. It is your responsibility to pay for the cost to repair, replace and pay the plumber for the service. Review your policy with your insurance agent to make sure you are covered if you had a frozen pipe loss on your hands.

To prevent frozen pipes try these tips: 

• Make sure your gutters are free of debris so melting snow and ice can flow freely through the gutter.
• Allow your faucet to drip slowly. Flowing water will prevent freezing.
• Do not allow your heat to drop below 55 in the winter months.
• Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow warm air to circulate.
• If you’re away for an extended period of time winterize your pipes by having them drained.
• If you’re away for an extended period of time have a neighbor check on your home.
• If you have an unoccupied rental property have some check on it in the winter months.
• Disconnect your garden hose and install covers on outside faucets.
• Wrap pipes near exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation from your local hardware store. 
  

• Make sure heating vents are open in all rooms, especially the basement where itis the coldest.
• Consider weather sealing your windows to prevent drafts.
• Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home.

What to do if your pipes freeze: 

• Heat up the pipe with a blow dryer or a space heater until the water can freely flow through the pipe.
• Start thawing it nearest to the faucet. Open the faucet slightly so water can be released as it starts to thaw out.

What to do if the pipe bursts: 

• Locate your water shut off valve and turn off the main water supply. This will prevent water from continuing to pour out. View more info. on how to shut your water off here: How to Locate Your Water Shut off Valve
• Contact Rainbow International at 708-460-0911 to assist with water damage clean up.
• Contact your insurance agent to notify them of your loss.
• Contact a plumber to address the broken supply line. Water damage should be cleaned up after the source of the problem has been fixed to prevent more damage from occurring. 
• Take pictures if it will be some time before your insurance adjuster can get out to protect your property.

GET FAMILIAR WITH YOUR WATER SHUTOFF VALVE

Does everyone in your home know where the shutoff valve is to your main water supply? You should. The difference in knowing where it is and how to use it could save you.

If you have a broken pipe, leaky toilet or faulty water hose line it could continuously pour water until the main water supply line is shut off. It could cost you thousands of dollars in water damage if you don't know where the shutoff valve is or how to use it.

In some houses that receive city water there is an easily accessible valve where the main water pipe enters the building. Every home is built differently and all homes are built suitable to their climate. Some have basements while others do not. Your supply line is most likely located in your basement but may be elsewhere.The time to locate it is before an emergency occurs.

Once you have located your shutoff valve you can turn the valve off to stop the water flow by turning it to the right if you have a valve that looks similar to a round gear. Righty tighty lefty loosey. If you have a valve that looks like a thin handle turn the handle so that it is sticking out from the pipe. The valve remains open if it is inline with the pipe as shown in the picture below. 

However, not all houses have this valve. If this is the case, you will need to find the water meter valve located underground near where the water main that runs by your house. It is typically located under a heavy iron cover close to the curb. Some of these covers can be accessed if you have the right tools though many have special bolts to prevent people from tampering with them. If you are not able to access this cover contact your village or your local police station immediately.

If you live in a rural location then you receive your water from a well. To turn off your water supply simply shut off the switch or circuit breaker to the well pump.

If you have not had your shutoff valve checked in some time you should have a plumber look at it to make sure it is in proper working order.