Prevent Frozen Pipes from Disrupting Your Business

Discover Seven Valuable Tips to Help Prepare Your Pipes

Protecting your business's pipes from freezing during the winter season is vital to avoid expensive damage and interruptions. Discover these seven valuable tips to help you effectively prepare your pipes for freezing temperatures:

Insulate Exposed Pipes
Shield any pipes that are exposed to the cold, such as those found in unheated areas such as basements, crawl spaces, or attics. Use pipe insulation sleeves or wrap them with heat tape to maintain warmth. Prioritize pipes located near exterior walls, as they are more susceptible to freezing.

Seal Gaps and Cracks
Thoroughly inspect your business premises for any gaps or cracks that could allow frigid air to infiltrate and impact your pipes. Seal any openings around windows, doors, and foundation walls with caulk or weatherstripping to minimize drafts.

Maintain Adequate Heating
Ensure that your business's heating system is in optimal working condition and provides sufficient warmth to all areas, including spaces with pipes. Maintain a consistent indoor temperature, particularly during extreme cold snaps, by keeping the thermostat well above freezing.

Let Faucets Drip
During exceptionally cold nights, allow your faucets to slowly drip. Even a trickle of running water through the pipes can prevent freezing by relieving pressure and promoting circulation.

Keep Cabinet Doors Open
For pipes under sinks or cabinets along exterior walls, let the cabinet doors remain open to allow warm air to reach them. This practice is especially beneficial for kitchen and bathroom pipes.

Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hose Bibs
Before freezing temperatures arrive, disconnect and drain water from outdoor hose bibs and irrigation systems. This precaution prevents water from freezing within these outdoor fixtures and potentially damaging the connected pipes.

Have an Emergency Plan and Supplies
In the unfortunate event that your prevention efforts fail, it is essential to have an emergency plan in place:

• Identify the main water shutoff valve for your business and ensure that your staff is aware of its location.
• Keep a stock of pipe insulation materials, heat tape, and pipe repair kits readily available for a swift response in case of freezing or a leak. You can try to use hot towels, electrical heat tape, or a hair dryer to thaw out a frozen pipe, but don’t use an electrical device around standing water.
• If you do have a water leak, call a water mitigation company or a plumber as soon as possible.
• Don't use a torch to thaw out frozen plumbing. A water loss is better than a fire loss.

If you need to file a claim, you can contact your agent or file a claim on our website.

Extreme cold can strike unexpectedly, so it is crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding your business's pipes from freezing. Implementing these precautions can help save you from costly repairs and disruptions throughout the winter months.

The information presented in this document is for informational and educational purposes only. It is intended to assist individuals, farmers, and business owners in identifying common hazards/risks and considering proactive loss prevention or loss mitigation actions. For information related to specific loss hazards, please contact your insurance agent.