Austin Insurance Group

Preventing Freezing Pipes*

Frozen pipes can pose a problem anywhere temperatures hover around 0 degrees Fahrenheit. While the good news is that frozen or burst pipes do not endanger people, the bad news is that the damage to your home or property can be extensive –damaging floors, ceilings, walls, rugs and furnishings. Even a tiny 1/8-inch crack can spill up to 250 gallons of water per day. That’s why it makes sense to take whatever steps possible to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.

Before freezing weather sets in:

• Review your homeowners insurance policy to ensure you have adequate protection and appropriate coverages.  One of  our agents can can assist you.
• Homeowners policies provide coverage for valuables, up to certain limits. For maximum protection, you should have jewelry, furs, silverware, fine arts and other valuables appraised, then scheduled separately to your policy. You’ll get the broadest coverage possible, with no deductible. Ask your Austin Insurance Group agent for more information.
• Take an inventory of your personal property. Document this inventory with a videotape or photographs. Store the information, and any other important documents, in a safe deposit box. Austin Insurance Group offers a brochure that will guide you room-by-room, through an inventory — call your Austin Insurance Group for a free copy.
• Make sure adult family members know how to shut off water and call a plumber if needed.
• Insulate pipes, especially those close to outside walls, in attics or crawl spaces where the chance of freezing is greatest. If you have an outside electrical water pump, don’t forget to insulate it as well.
• Wrap pipes with heat tape.
• Seal leaks surrounding or near pipes.
• Remember to bring garden hoses in and turn off and drain water to outdoor spigots at the cutoff valve.
• If you have an outdoor pool or spa, check with the manufacturer on how to protect it from freezing.

During a cold spell:

• Keep heat at 55° F. or higher.
• Turn on both hot and cold faucets near outside walls to allow a small trickle of water to run during the night and, if seldom used, during extremely cold days as well.
• Keep sink cabinet doors open to allow more heat to circulate around pipes underneath, particularly if located near exterior walls.
• If you need to be away from home, leave the heat on or drain your water system before you go. Ask someone to check your house daily.

If your pipes freeze:

• Open all faucets.
• Remove insulation and wrap pipes in rags. If possible, pour hot water over pipes, starting where exposure to the cold is greatest. If that doesn’t thaw them, call your plumber. Don’t try to thaw pipes with an open flame of any kind.

If your pipes burst:

• Shut off the water immediately to prevent additional damage.
• Take proper precautions to avoid an electrical shock from being in or near standing water.
• Call your plumber.
• Take an inventory of any damaged property or possessions. Do not dispose of any items without the prior approval of your insurance adjuster.
• In the event of a loss, contact your insurance claims office and a representative will assist you.

Note: Homeowners policies and coverages vary by state. An Austin Insurance Group agent will gladly explain the coverages provided by your policy and any regulations for the state in which you live.

*Source: Institute for Business and Home Safety, http://www.ibhs.org

Austin Insurance Group - 512-339-2900

As the winter  season approaches, families crank up the heat, decorate their homes with lights and candles, and gather in the kitchen to prepare and enjoy warm, home-cooked holiday meals.  Unfortunately, the cold weather and seasonal activities can also create more fire hazards around the home.  In fact, the U.S. Fire Administration reports that residential building fires during the winter months result in approximately 945 deaths, 3,825 injuries and $1.7 billion in property loss each year.

One-third of home fires occur during the winter and cooking is the number-one cause of these tragedies between December and February.  So to prevent your holiday or winter gathering from going up in smoke, practice these important fire-safety tips:

Top Holiday and Winter Fire Safety Tips:

Avoid placing space heaters in bathrooms or other damp locations. Also, keep portable heaters at least three feet away from all combustible materials and never leave them unattended.

1.  Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.  Use only lights which have the label of an independent testing laboratory.  Some lights can  only be used indoors so check before using them outside.
2. Choose only holiday decorations that are fire retardant or fire resistant.
3. Make a new cut one inch up on fresh cut Christmas trees before mounting them inside, water them daily, and never let the water fall below the cut mark.  Remove fresh cut trees no later than four weeks after placing them inside.
4. Keep candles out of reach from children and pets and never leave a lit candle unattended. Trim the wicks to one-quarter of an inch to avoid high flames and remember to leave a one-foot circle of safety around any burning candle in your home.
5. Avoid overloading power strips.  Connect only as many devices as your electrical circuit can handle.
6. When not at home, make sure to extinguish or turn off all candles and fireplaces.
7. Secure a sturdy metal screen in front of fireplaces to prevent hot ash from escaping. Allow ashes to cool before disposing and dispose them in a metal container to avoid any potential fire hazards.
8. Have chimneys and other sources of heat cleaned by a qualified professional.
9. Do not leave an active stove unattended, and never use an oven to heat your home, as it can release potentially toxic fumes.
10. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby high-risk areas so that it’s easily accessible in the event of a fire. If you haven’t used yours in a while revisit the instructions before the holidays get into full swing.  Alert everyone to evacuate before using the extinguisher, and designate someone to call the fire department from a cell phone or neighbors phone once they are outside.
11. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, and test them every month.  Replace any that have been used for 10 years or more.
12. Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
13. Ask smokers to smoke outside, or provide large deep ashtrays.  Wet all smoking materials before discarding them in your trash container.
14. Practice an escape plan – during the day and night – at least twice a year. Also, remind any guests about your safe family meeting place, outside and away from the home, if a fire does occur.
15. Talk to your children about fire safety. If there’s a home fire – everyone should get out and stay out. Call 911 from outside the home, and never go back into a burning home to retrieve a personal item or pet.

Get the right type of wood. Wet wood creates more sparks, so use dry. If you’re using commercial fire logs—a wood alternative made from wax and sawdust—follow the package instructions, burn the logs one at a time and avoid poking or breaking them apart while they’re burning.

Start with a small fire, which—when given room to breathe—will burn hotter and create fewer sparks than large fires crammed into small spaces. To achieve the right-sized fire, start it in the back of the fireplace, preferably on a grill, and use kindling, twigs and small balls of newspaper, instead of fire accelerants, to get it going.

Use a tight-fitting screen at all times, and keep it closed while the fire is burning, to contain sparks and embers. Never leave a fire unattended or use a home fireplace to burn garbage, leaves or piles of newspaper, which burn quickly and at very high temperatures—and might create toxic fumes.

Prepare for emergencies. Install and/or check smoke alarms throughout your house and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. And before lighting a fire, remove objects like decorations and cards from around the fireplace, and move rugs and kindling away from the hearth.

For more information about fire safety, visit nfpa.org.

Protect your home inside and out with an affordable homeowners insurance policy through Austin Insurance Group.