Tips for Preventing Frozen & Burst Pipes Offered by Arizona’s Public Adjusters

Each year in the United States, water damage to residential and commercial buildings results in billions of dollars in property damage.  Many of these water damage events occur during the winter when pipes can freeze and burst.  While few residents of the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas have to deal with frozen pipes, many other regions of Arizona experience months of freezing temperatures. 
 
As water freezes, it expands and can put tremendous pressure on both metal and plastic pipes.  If a pipe does break, many supply lines can easily release hundreds of gallons of water in a very short period of time.  This water will gradually make its way to the lowest area it can reach which means a burst pipe on a second floor can cause water damage to not only to that level of the property, but also to the floor below and even the basement or crawl space.
 
Water from a burst pipe can ruin building materials, belongings, furnishing and can even result in structural damage in some circumstances.  This same moisture may allow for the growth of mold in as short as 48 hours. 
 
“We get calls from property owners who have suffered water damage due to a frozen pipe that has burst all winter long,” said Douglas Waldie, President of Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters, LLC. “When these types of events happen, our licensed public adjusters quickly help clients obtain the most accurate and complete settlement for their insured property claims.  We ensure that they are treated fairly and that no details are overlooked so that they are able to quickly return their home or business to pre-flood conditions.”
 
Fortunately, there are things people can do to help prevent pipes from freezing.  They include the following:
 
·         Insulate or heat any pipes that could be susceptible to freezing.  These include hot water lines as they can also freeze when not in use.  Don’t forget pipes that could be out of sight in basements, crawlspaces and attics.
·         Remove and drain outdoor hose connections.  If there is an indoor valve to these outdoor bibs turn them off, allow the pipes to drain and leave the outside valve open to allow any remaining water to expand without bursting the pipes.
·         Keep garage doors closed if there are water lines located there or in garage walls.  Also consider opening closets and cabinet doors inside the building to allow warm air to circulate if pipes are located behind them.
·         Be sure the HVAC system in the building is operating properly. The American Red Cross recommends keeping the heat on at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit if the property will be empty.  Turning the water off to the property and draining the water lines is also an option for vacant properties; however, this could prevent fire suppression systems from being able to operate.
·         During extreme cold weather some people choose to allow a trickle of water to flow from a faucet to keep water in motion to prevent pipes from freezing.
 
To learn more about how the licensed public adjusters at Hudson Douglas can professionally settle insured property claims quickly and for the fair maximum value, please visit www.HudsonDouglasPublicAdjusters.com, email claims@HudsonDouglas.com or call (800) 898-4290.
 
About Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters, LLC
With more than 50 years of experience in the construction and disaster restoration industries, the founders of Hudson Douglas Public Adjusters provide policy holders with professional representation to efficiently manage and settle insured claims.  Hudson Douglas’ public adjusters are licensed to offer these services to residential and commercial customers in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail