Tips to avoid frozen pipes this winter

With much of the nation in the grip of frigid weather the threat of frozen pipes increases as temperatures drop dangerously low and homes are left empty during holiday travel.

State Farm Insurance, the nation's largest insurer of homes, warns that thousands of families have one or more rooms in their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter by water pipes freezing and breaking.

When the outside temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, water pipes in homes with little or no insulation are likely to freeze and break. A one-eighth inch crack in a pipe can spew out more than 250 gallons of water a day, destroying floors, furniture, appliances and personal items — a timely concern for families about to leave their homes on holiday travel.

Turning the heat off may seem to be a good idea if you're going to be away from home for an extended period, but saving a couple of bucks at the thermostat could really cost you.

Homeowners can avoid frozen pipes by having adequate insulation where pipes run along outside walls, floors and ceilings. They can disconnect outside garden hoses, wrap exposed pipes with insulating sleeves or tape, and seal foundation cracks that let arctic air freeze pipes in crawlspaces.

There are two simple tasks homeowners can do in about two minutes that can help protect pipes and homes when a severe freeze is predicted: (1.) open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to piping under sinks and vanities near exterior walls, and (2.) run a small trickle of water at vulnerable cold and hot faucets.

According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, claim payments by all insurance companies over the past decade for these kinds of losses have exceeded $4 billion.

For more timely tips on avoiding the preventable disaster of frozen pipes, contact State Farm Agent Greg Clemens, Westmont Local Insurance Agent.

The Greg Clemens State Farm Agency is open Monday through Thursday from 9-7pm, Friday from 9-5pm, and Saturday 9-3pm. Greg and his team will work hard for your business and reward referrals.

If you would like more information about Greg and his team, feel free to call Greg directly at 630-812-1500 or email at info@gregclemens.com