In colder climes, frozen pipes are a real danger during the winter. When frozen pipes burst, you could be looking at flood damage and ruined possessions. And worse, depending on your renters insurance coverage, you may not be covered for reimbursements and repairs. That’s why renters should be especially vigilant about preventing frozen pipes during the wintertime. After all, the last thing you want is to come home from a winter vacation to a sopping wet apartment.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to avoid the perils of frozen pipes. Protect your pipes from freezing by using these 5 simple tips.
1. Set your thermostat.
Whether you are simply at work all day or are gone for a week-long vacation, never turn your heating off completely when you are gone from your apartment for an extended period of time. Your minimum thermostat setting in winter should be 55°F.
2. Open your cabinet doors.
Pipes that are located in cabinets are isolated by closed cabinet doors, making it harder for them to stay warm. Open your cabinet doors so that the warm air in the rest of the apartment can circulate around the pipes to help keep them from freezing.
3. Clear your gutters.
If your apartment is located on the top floor, you or your landlord should make sure gutters are clear so icicles or dams won’t form. If you’re concerned about doing it yourself, contact your apartment’s maintenance team.
4. Keep your garage door closed.
If your apartment has a garage, make sure you keep the door closed when temperatures are freezing. This prevents exposing water supply lines that run through the garage.
5. Let your faucets drip.
If you know temperatures will reach freezing, let your faucets drip, whether you’re at home or away. Even a small amount of water running through an exposed pipe helps prevent it from freezing.
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