State Farm® reports increase in cost of water claims, reminds consumers to take precautions
The average cost per claim – about $15,000 – related to water damage from frozen pipes increased 33 percent between 2007 and 2008, State Farm reports.
As Old Man Winter makes his way across the country it’s important to take a few minutes to assess pipe vulnerability. Freezing temperatures could cause pipes to freeze and burst, destroying floors, furniture, appliances and treasured family heirlooms.
“A small crack in a pipe can cause extensive damage,” said Jamie France, State Farm loss mitigation manager. “In most cases, water losses can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions. Spending a few minutes to protect your pipes could save you time and expense down the road.”
Beat the Freeze
Minimize the chance your pipes will freeze by insulating pipes in unheated areas and those that run along outside walls, floors and ceilings. Disconnect outside garden hoses, and seal foundation cracks that let arctic air freeze pipes in crawlspaces.
A few simple tasks can help protect pipes and homes when a severe freeze is predicted:
- Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to piping under sinks and vanities near exterior walls.
- Run a small trickle of water from hot and cold faucets during extreme cold.
- Keep exterior doors to unheated spaces closed as much as possible during winter months.
- If you plan to be away for an extended period, have the water system professionally drained.
- If you are taking a short trip, ask a neighbor to check the house regularly during severe cold spells. Discovering a burst pipe or water leak quickly can prevent excessive damage.
- Install a whole house water leak detection system. For a list of manufacturers visit: http://www.statefarm.com/learning/loss_prevent/learning_loss_water_leak_det_system.asp
- If you own a business that will be unoccupied for more than 24 hours at a time make arrangements to have the building inspected once a day during winter. Quickly discovering a burst pipe or water leak can prevent excessive damage.
Winter Buildup on Roofs also can be Damaging
A heavy snow blanket and icicles hanging from the roof may be beautiful, but those icicles can be an indicator of a big problem – ice dams.
After several days of melting-freezing cycles, it’s common for the melted snow and ice to work up under the roof shingles until water enters the attic and eventually does damage to the ceilings, wall and contents. These ice dams usually form where the roof meets the gutter and result in large chunks of ice and icicles hanging from the roof. Ice dams that go unnoticed for an extended period of time can do significant damage to the building and its contents.
One way to avoid this danger is to keep snow and ice loads on your roof to a minimum. Do not go onto your roof to remove snow; hire professionals or use long-handled devices on the market called “roof rakes,” which let you stand on the ground and pull down snow and ice. Remember to stand clear of the falling snow and ice.
There’s no way to guarantee an ice dam won’t damage your home, but you can take steps to cut the chances of an ice dam forming in the first place:
- Thoroughly clean all leaves, sticks and other debris from your home’s gutters and downspouts.
- Evaluate the insulation and ventilation in your attic. Most experts agree the R-value of attic insulation should be at least R-30 (R-38 is preferable in northern climates).
If Ice Dams are Causing Water Damage
The following are shortterm fixes. In order to avoid the same problem in the future, a qualified contractor should assess the amount of attic insulation and attic ventilation (especially around where the ice dam formed) and look for holes in the air barrier between the living spaces and the attic.
- If you see water staining at an exterior wall or ceiling where there is snow on the roof above it, act quickly to avoid extensive damage.
- Hire a contractor to carefully remove most of the snow from the roof above the ice dam. The contractor should avoid touching the roof with the removal equipment or even walking on the roof if possible. Cold roofs are more prone to damage because they are more brittle than they are in the summer.
- Have the contractor create one or two grooves in the ice dam to allow the ponding water to drain off. These grooves should not be taken down to the roofing as this may damage the roof. If necessary, the contractor can use heat tape in the groove on a temporary basis to keep the groove open.
