Tips on How to Prepare Your Pipes From Freezing and Becoming Costly

With frigid winter weather and a chance of snow a possibility for tonight in our area, it's always better to be safe than sorry when preparing for below freezing weather. not taking the necessary precautions can lead to some unsightly costly bills and repairs.

Did you know that if a frozen water pipe that bursts can spew more than 250 gallons of water a day into your home, causing major damage?

As the winter weather continues to pick up across our region, the pipes in your home and business are in danger. New claims data released by State Farm shows that more than $4.2 million in claims was paid to Arkansas homeowners in 2018 to recover from burst pipes.

2018 frozen pipe claim information for Arkansas:

• Total paid freeze losses: more than $4.2 million
• Total frozen pipe claims: 291 (up from 113 in 2017)
• Average paid claim: more than $14,500

Tips for when the mercury plummets:

• A trickle of water may be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let it drip, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.
• Keep the thermostat set at the same temperature during both day and night.
• Open your cabinet doors.
• Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl space and attic.

If your pipes freeze:

• Turn on your faucet and call a plumber.
• Never attempt to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame.
• Turn off the water at the main shutoff valve. Make sure all family members know where the water shutoff valve is.

Frozen water pipes affect a quarter-million families each winter, and it can happen in homes with both plastic and copper pipes. It's all too common, especially considering this damage is largely preventable.