Freezing temperatures don’t just cause travel problems—they can turn a small plumbing issue into major water damage overnight. When pipes freeze and burst, repairs can be costly and disruptive, especially if the damage spreads beyond one room.
Most homeowners’ policies cover sudden and accidental pipe bursts, but they typically do not cover gradual leaks caused by long-term wear, corrosion, or neglect. That distinction matters. If a slow leak goes unnoticed for months, insurance may not step in to cover the damage.
If you have rental property, be sure to remind tenants to cover the outside spigots, open up cabinets when we have freeze warnings and to generally make sure they keep the place heated. You’d be surprised at how often we hear tenants (especially students who never owned a home) leaving for a few days turning off the heat. It’s never a good call to get when someone comes home to busted pipes.
Another common gap is water backup from drains or sump pumps. This is not automatically included in many policies. Adding water backup coverage (35.00 to 60.00 dollars a year generally) is one of the most affordable ways to strengthen protection and avoid an expensive claim denial when winter weather puts stress on plumbing systems.
Stay Tuned For Other Great Reads In This Month’s Newsletter
- Winter Driving in Oklahoma — How to Stay Protected
- Starting the New Year — Why a Policy Review Should Be on Your Resolution List
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