Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Hey New England, can you feel it? Brrrrrrrr….. Freezing temperatures are starting to make an appearance!  As you pull out the scarves, hats, gloves and check off that holiday shopping list don’t forget to protect pipes! Huh? Yes, your pipes! One of the most frequently overlooked potential risks to homeowners/renters is bursting pipes!

Pipes may burst due to age and wear and tear, but most commonly it is due to freezing. For many of us, this is the time of year we leave our homes to visit friends and family and the last thing you want is to come home to the consequences of bursting pipes. 

Freezing pipes can mean big money to repair and a big mess to clean up- not to mention the damage to your personal property and/or your neighbors!  Of course there is the obvious cosmetic damage to your home or rental property, the cost of repairing whatever damage the burst has caused. A burst pipe can also damage furniture, rugs, appliances, and the cost of relocation of tenants a loss of rental income.  Such a hassle!

So, what can you do to avoid this headache?

Make sure the pipes are well insulated, and during cold weather be sure to keep your heating system on. Open kitchen and bathroom vanity doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. If water lines run through the garage area, keep the garage doors closed to keep freezing air outside. Drain all outside taps and if the property is going to be unoccupied for an extended length of drain the cold water system.

Most importantly make sure you are adequately covered by calling your local independent insurance agent to review the coverages on your MA Homeowners, MA Renter's or MA Condominium insurance policy.