NEST 2020 | Page 60

BUILDING & RENOVATION
When the Water’s Running
Starkweather and Shepley advise how homeowners can protect their homes from water damage while they’re away.
E D I T E D B Y K A I T LY N M U R R AY
Imagine: 20,000 gallons of water running down from the attic of
your beach house while you are 1,000 miles away. It seeps through your custom wood
floors and antique Persian rug. It runs down walls that hold priceless artwork and
beloved family photos. It drenches your children’s toys and your brand-new furniture.
Eventually, the ceilings and frame give way. The result is $2 million worth of damage.
Water damage has consistently ranked as the costliest cause of loss among PURE
members year after year. The largest of these losses, not surprisingly, all occurred
while members were away from home. When no one is there to notice it, water can
run undetected for days — or even longer — causing considerable damage to a
home and its contents.
That’s why it’s important for all homeowners to take precautions to help prevent
water damage. Whether you’re planning to be away for a short vacation or leaving
for the season, there are many steps you can take to help reduce the chances that
you will suffer a water loss.
1. INSTALL SMART TECHNOLOGY MONITORING SYSTEMS.
MEMBER STORIES
While on vacation, the sprinkler line in the attic of a PURE member’s
home burst in five locations throughout the length of the line. Water
ran from the breaches for two days before the home’s alarm alerted
the local fire department. By that time, there was more than $1.5M in
damage to the structure and contents.
Upon returning to their home after a two-week-long vacation, a PURE
member was devastated to find that a water line in the attic had
rusted through and split days earlier, dispelling water throughout the
three levels of the home. There was considerable damage, much of it
to newly installed hardwood flooring and antique furnishings and
fixtures. Damages totaled nearly $150K.
While on vacation, a member received a call from his alarm company
notifying him that an alarm had sounded at his home. The police were
dispatched, but without access to the home, they found no issues.
The following day, the member’s father-in-law visited the home to
investigate and found that a pipe to the air conditioning handler in
the attic had burst, dispersing water throughout the home and
resulting in nearly $1.3M in damages.
Automatic water shut-off devices, such as the Sentinel Hydrosolutions Leak Defense
System, WaterCop and Flologic, monitor the flow of water in your home’s
plumbing system. If a leak is detected, the system can automatically shut off the
water and notify you before serious damage occurs. Meanwhile, centrally monitored
temperature sensors placed in each heating zone within your home can alert you to
extreme environmental changes — including cold, heat and humidity — helping to
reduce the risk of frozen pipes and damage to climate-sensitive wines, collectibles
or other valuables.
2. MAINTAIN AN IDEAL TEMPERATURE IN YOUR HOME.
Utilize smart-home technology to help screen and control the temperature and
humidity of your home while you are away. In cold weather climates, maintain an inside
temperature of at least sixty-five degrees to help avoid burst pipes. In warm weather
climates, aim for an interior relative humidity at or below 40 percent to help avoid mold.
3. MAINTAIN IDEAL CONDITIONS IN YOUR ATTIC.
HVAC systems, water heaters and other water lines are commonly placed in the attic,
away from the heat of the home, so they are more susceptible to freezing during cold
temperatures. To prevent burst pipes, make sure both the attic and pipes are properly
insulated with flexible closed-cell polyethylene or elastomeric insulation.
4. CONDUCT AN ENERGY AUDIT TO IDENTIFY
AT-RISK AREAS OF YOUR HOME.
The audit can identify hidden defects that could put plumbing at risk, including
insulation gaps, air leakage, duct leakage and moisture issues. As a courtesy, many
utility companies offer these audits free to their customers. Or, PURE members
can contact a PURE Member Advocate to find a trusted third party who can help.
The material in this document is advisory in nature. No liability is assumed by reason of the information. It is offered as a resource to be used together with your professional advisors in maintaining a loss
prevention program. PURE® refers to Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange, a Florida-domiciled reciprocal insurer and member of PURE Group of Insurance Companies. PURE Risk Management,
LLC (PRM), a for profit entity, serves as UREs Attorney-In-Fact for a fee. PURE membership requires Subscribers Agreement. Visit pureinsurance.com for details. Trademarks are property of PRM used with
permission. ©2020 PRM. PURE HNW Insurance Services, CA Lic. 0I78980. v 10.30.17.
58    RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’S NEST |
2020