Freezing Pipes and Homeowners Insurance

Cold weather can lead to freezing pipes in your home. Freezing pipes can lead to damage to in your home and even create dangerous conditions on your property for pedestrians.

What Does Your Homeowners Policy Cover?

Most homeowner’s policies will cover water damage from freezing or burst pipes. (Check with your agent to make sure.) There are a couple of exceptions:

• If an appliance malfunctions and causes pipes to burst, your policy may not cover the damage to the appliance. But it will probably cover the damage done to your home or possessions caused by the bursting pipes.
• If your home is vacant there might be some limitations to the coverage.

Precautions to Prevent Freezing Pipes

Here is a list of things you can do to help protect your pipes from freezing during the winter:

• Clean your gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely
• Turn on your faucets and allow them to drip slowly. Moving water will prevent freezing.
• Heat your house to a minimum of 65 degrees in the winter
• Open cupboard doors below sinks. It will help allow warm air to circulate.
• Wrap pipes with heating tape
• Drain your water system if you’re away for an extended time

As always, check with your agent so you know exactly what your coverage is.

Steve Wyrostek -HomeownersInsurance.org Expert A 20 year plus veteran of the insurance industry, Steve managed departments in the personal and commercial lines areas of major insurers. He’s familiar with how insurance—ranging from boat to workers compensation—works.