With temperatures below freezing recently in the Portland area and still in many areas around teh country, there's an uptick in homeowner insurance claims relating to water-related issues, largely due to freezing pipes or freeze-thaw action creating openings and leaks.
How does a deep freeze impact your home and what signs should you look out for?
Frozen pipes are among the biggest risks, as they can expand and cause leaks or bursts, especially in older plumbing styles and materials.
In your foundation, water can get into small cracks. Once there and frozen, it can expand and put pressure on the surrounding area, causing more cracking, which can allow more water in and the cycle repeats itself.
Weatherizing (i.e. insulating) your plumbing pipes is a great place to start. Knowing where your shutoff valves are is also important, so you can shut water off if/when needed or to assist in draining lines.
Drafty basements or crawl spaces can be a sign of too much airflow and could also indicate a higher risk of issues as temps stay low.
If you spot foundation cracks, immediately be alarmed. Having a few small ones is typical. If you see something a bit bigger - or horizontal - it's a good time to call in an expert for an opinion. I recommend M Leon Construction. Contact me anytime for details.
How does a deep freeze impact your home and what signs should you look out for?
Frozen pipes are among the biggest risks, as they can expand and cause leaks or bursts, especially in older plumbing styles and materials.
In your foundation, water can get into small cracks. Once there and frozen, it can expand and put pressure on the surrounding area, causing more cracking, which can allow more water in and the cycle repeats itself.
Weatherizing (i.e. insulating) your plumbing pipes is a great place to start. Knowing where your shutoff valves are is also important, so you can shut water off if/when needed or to assist in draining lines.
Drafty basements or crawl spaces can be a sign of too much airflow and could also indicate a higher risk of issues as temps stay low.
If you spot foundation cracks, immediately be alarmed. Having a few small ones is typical. If you see something a bit bigger - or horizontal - it's a good time to call in an expert for an opinion. I recommend M Leon Construction. Contact me anytime for details.
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