You wake up after a cold night to find that some of your home’s pipes burst. How did this happen?
Water remains in your pipes almost continuously. During times of extreme freezing temps, the water in the pipes can freeze. The water expands within the pipes, creating pressure on the inside of the pipe. Often, they will break open, leading to water damage throughout the home. In some situations, your home insurance company will help you cover the repair costs. They may also cover the losses you suffer as a result.
Why Does It Happen?
Many times, there is no way to prevent burst pipes from occurring. Even a crack that is just a few millimeters wide can cause this to occur. However, even in these situations, the smallest amount of freezing can cause breaks. When that happens, the pipes cannot withstand the pressure for too long thus breaking open. If you notice your pipes have moisture on the outside, take action to fix it. Discuss the options for fixing any type of leaks present.
Will Your Home Insurance Cover the Losses?
Most of the time, burst pipes protection are coverage a home insurance policy will offer. This is generally a type of unexpected, unavoidable incident. This is one of the key reasons that you have coverage. Residential claims for burst pipes is a common type of claim in some areas.
However, if the pipes burst because of lack of maintenance, the policy may not offer coverage to you. It is up to the homeowner to maintain proper maintenance to all home systems. This includes your home’s plumbing. Damage to the pipe, leaks that you knew about, or damage to an outdoor spigot can all lead to this type of otherwise preventable loss.
How to Prevent This Risk
In some cases, there is nothing you can do to prevent the bursting of the pipes. In other cases, you can take preventative measures such as these:
- Work with a plumber to insulate pipes that are at a high risk of bursting.
- Have an annual inspection of your pipes to ensure that there is ample protection in place.
- On very cold days, keep the cabinet doors open in your living area. This helps reduce how cold the pipes get.
- Leave a small stream of water running on these cold days. The moving water is less likely to freeze.
- Keep your home warm throughout the winter.
Home insurance is there to help you. Discuss the options with your agent for minimizing this risk. Call us for a Downingtown home insurance quote at (610) 269-4500.