Do you own property that can is affected by cold weather?
If you do, it is time to brush up on your cold weather hazards. Cold weather can be expensive if you are not prepared. The deep freeze that Texas suffered in 2021 is a prime example of the damage that freezing temperatures can do.
Winter Damage Prevention Checklist
- Ensure your pipes are well insulated and pay special attention to hoses, outdoor plumbing, and sprinkler systems. Blow out the ground and sprinkler plumbing.
- Have a plumber check your plumbing before freezing temperatures arrive.
- If you have an attic or basement/crawl space inspect the pipes.
- Set your thermostat in your home to at least 55 degrees. This is especially significant if your property is vacant during the winter months.
- Never plug a space heater into an extension cord or power strip; this is an extreme fire hazard.
- Weatherproof your home by ensuring the windows, doors, vents, and other gaps in your building are weather tight.
- Install low-temperature alarms in remote, exposed, or vulnerable areas with plumbing.
- Invest in leak detection technology. Basic leak sensors are about $50. These will send an alert to your phone if they detect a leak. More expensive systems will turn off your water if they detect a leak.
- Run your water. Keep a little water running through your cold and hot water lines if the weather gets below freezing.
- Inspect heating appliances yearly, preferably in the fall.
- Trim any trees near your home to prevent branches weighed down with ice from falling on your roof.
- Keep sidewalks, walkways, and stairs free of snow and ice to reduce the risk of injury and liability.
About Coastal Claims:
Coastal Claims Inc. works for the client and offers residential and commercial services in multiple states. We serve as licensed property loss experts; we can help you get the best results.