How to Prevent Winter Claims and Protect Your Home from Freezing Temperatures

How to Prevent Winter Claims and Protect Your Home from Freezing Temperatures

At Benchmarq Insurance, we care about helping you protect what matters most. As temperatures drop, frozen pipes and water damage become a common winter claim, and many of those losses can be prevented with simple preparation. When water freezes it expands, which increases pressure inside pipes, especially in unheated or poorly insulated areas. A burst pipe can cause major damage that may not be immediately visible and can even lead to mold if moisture lingers.

To help keep your home safer this winter, here are steps we recommend taking before freezing weather arrives:

1. Disconnect outdoor hoses. Outdoor faucets are especially vulnerable. Removing hoses and placing an insulated cover over the faucet helps prevent ice from forming inside the plumbing system.

2. Keep your garage door closed. A closed garage can help maintain warmer temperatures inside your home, especially if plumbing runs through walls near the garage.

3. Allow warm air to reach pipes. When temperatures drop to below freezing, open the cabinets under sinks to let heat circulate, particularly along exterior walls where pipes can cool quickly. This is especially helpful overnight when water isn't moving through the pipes.

4. Let water drip if pipes are at risk. If you are concerned a pipe may freeze, turn your faucet on to a slow drip to maintain water movement.

5. Maintain a minimum indoor temperature of 55 degrees. Whether you are home or away, try not to lower your thermostat too much. Consistent warmth can prevent pipes from freezing.

Taking a few preventive steps now can help protect your home, avoid unexpected repairs, and reduce the chance of filing a claim. If you have questions about winter coverage, please reach out. We are here to help you stay prepared and confident all season long.