Increased Risks for Homeowners During Winter Months
I am On Your Side®
_________________________________________________________________________
Steve Uhlman | Sponsor Relations Sales Manager
Nationwide Insurance
614-332-4945
[email protected]
Simple Safety Steps Can Prevent Millions
of Dollars in Frozen Pipe Damage
A much colder winter this year predicted by The
Old Farmer’s Almanac threatens to cause even more
frozen pipe damage to homes than last year unless
homeowners fight back the cold with simple steps to
protect homes.
According to claims data compiled by Nationwide
and Allied Insurance, the average frozen pipe insurance claim tops more than $10,000. In just three years
-- 2009-2011 -- Nationwide and Allied received more
than 30,000 homeowners’ frozen pipes claims from
across the country totaling more than $2.1 million. The
top states for frozen pipes claims were Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Connecticut, New York and Maryland.
take steps now to prevent potential damage.
Helpful Tips for Winter
Freezing pipes
Frozen water can cause pressure buildup leading to
pipes bursting. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside
walls are particularly vulnerable to freezing, where holes
in the home’s outside wall for television, cable or telephone lines allow cold air to reach them. Each situation is
unique, and may require a different approach, but here
are a few general tips you may want to consider to try to
keep water in pipes from freezing:
•
Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to
allow warm air to circulate around pipes (particularly in the kitchen and bathroom).
“Ruptured pipes in winter are one of the most common claims and the onslaught of a predicted colder
winter will no doubt make it a tough season for homeowners unless they take preventative action to protect
their homes,” said Pete 1