Household Tips – Skip Daley – Weathervane Insurance

The frigid temperatures are here! Each year there are millions of broken water pipes recorded in the United States alone, and the damage ranks second the hurricanes as the most costly of housing damages. While the threat is significant, there are ways to combat this potential peril by preparing yourself and your home for the winter weather.

Here are some tips on how to best position yourself to avoid a busted or frozen water pipe, and some advice on what to do should you find yourself in the situation of having a broken water pipe:

Before below freezing weather

Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses before putting them in storage
Place a foam cover over the faucet, turn off their supply valve, and leave the faucet to open position
Insulate water pipes with pipe sleeves, heat tape or heat cable, particularly pipes that run through unheated areas of the house, such as attics, basements, crawl spaces, and garages

During freezing weather

Keep your house warm, and allow the warm air to circulate as much as possible. Seal drafts and keep interior doors open
Do not turn off the heat if you will be away overnight
Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks, allowing indoor heat to reach the pipes. (be conscientious to keep chemicals out of reach from children and pets)
Open indoor faucets and allow a trickle of water

If a pipe freezes

Determine the location of the freeze
If the problem is widespread, turn off the main water and call a plumber
If it’s a single pipe, and you can reach the frozen section, try using a hair dryer, heating pad, or portable space heater (under close supervision). Keep the faucet open and work up and down the pipe, starting at the faucet and working backward to the frozen section. Apply heat until full water pressure returns and reduce the flow to a trickle until the stream is back to normal

If a pipe breaks

Turn off your water main IMMEDIATELY
If your electricity has been in contact with the water, turn off the affected breakers
Your safety is your first priority, so ensure that you, your family, and your pets are safe
If you can safely remove valuables from potential damage, and then proceed to extract as much water as possible
If the water damage is significant, contact your insurance agent, a water damage restoration company, and a plumber as soon as possible

For more information on how to prepare your home for winter, contact Weathervane Insurance Solutions in Bloomington, Indiana at 812-269-8621.

Energy saving tips to reduce your winter bills

The winter months bring more than glistening snow and holiday cheer . . . they bring frigid temperatures and dreaded heating bills! There are some simple ways you can become more energy efficient around your home to assist in reducing your costs this coming winter. Getting these chores accomplished early in the season will benefit you, as the days are typically warmer and have longer periods of daylight. Here are some DYI ideas which should save you energy and money:

Seal off drafty windows and patio doors
Caulk both sides of the trim around your windows
Try replacing the weather stripping around the doors in your home
Reverse the direction of ceiling fans to push air downward, delaying it from escaping the house
Insulate the hot water lines around your hot water heater and turn down the temperature of the water heater to the “warm” setting (120 degrees F)
Replace your furnace filter every 3 months (or as often as manufacturer recommendations)
Make sure your cold air returns aren’t blocked so your furnace can operate efficiently
Use a programmable thermostat to reduce heating costs when no one is at home
Uncover all south-facing windows to let all possible sunlight in your home
Install foam insulators behind the face plates of light switches and electrical outlets
Have your HVAC system inspected and tuned up in the Autumn

All of these ideas common sense thoughts that can be implemented with little time and little expenditure; contact a locally trusted HVAC professional to inspect your heating system and ensure it is running properly for you!