Seneca Insurance Company has provided us with some great material on how to prevent frozen pipes and winter weather damage to your home or business.

Damages can range from a few hundred dollars in to the millions, depending on where in the building the damage occurs. Freezing of pipes usually occurs in unheated or poorly heated locations within the building such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, electrical and plumbing chases, spaces adjacent to elevator shafts, skylights, broken or defective windows, or other openings and against exterior walls that have little or no insulation.

One cause of pipe freezing is loss of interior building heat, either from running out of fuel for the heating system, loss of electric power or loss of gas, propane, oil or other fuel may also result in a disruption to heating systems.

Prevention Can Be Simple

• Look in unheated areas such as the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and/or against exterior walls for water supply lines and fire protective sprinkler systems. Both hot and cold water pipes as well as fire protective systems in these areas should be insulated. For severe situations consider wrapping or lining pipes per the manufacturers instructions with thermostatically controlled heat tape, which will turn on at certain minimum temperatures to prevent pipes from freezing. Seal leaks and replace missing insulation. Consult your sprinkler maintenance contractor prior to wrapping sprinkler pipes.
• Each year before winter sets in, have your heating system inspected and/or serviced by a properly licensed and insured HVAC company to ensure that your system is prepared for the winter months ahead.

For the full list of prevention tips, click the link here!