Polar Vortex and Water Damage from cold Weather is here.
Great tips and help from a Licensed Public Adjuster for frozen pipes or any other type of property damage claims.
Call me at 1-516-499-7502 if you do suffer any type of property damage, residential or commercial.
Polar Vortex and Water Damage, call us now for help!
Is your property prepared?
Are you keeping the heat high enough to prevent frozen pipes?
Do you have enough oil in the tank?
Do you have drafts coming in from the windows, doors or your foundation along the sill plate?
When the temps get into the single digits with strong cold winds your property could suffer damage from frozen pipes.
When you go away for the weekend or the winter, some people recommend lowering your heat. In normal weather that’s fine but once it gets really cold and windy your run the risk of frozen pipes. Once your pipes freeze your looking at potentially your whole house or business getting destroyed. Have someone adjust the heat to a higher temp or don’t lower the heat when you go away, is it really worth coming home to your property destroyed.
Some of the Common Types of Property Damage from a Polar Vortex
Polar Vortex and Water Damage call us now at 1-516-499-7502 for help!
Frozen and Burst Pipes: As water freezes and expands in pipes, it creates pressure that can cause them to burst, leading to extensive water damage to walls, floors, ceilings, and all your contents items.
Ice Dams and Roof Damage: Melting snow on a roof that refreezes at the eaves forms an ice barrier (ice dam), preventing proper drainage. We have seen many roofs that were in perfect condition but then suffered ice damming causing water to back up under shingles, leading to leaks, water stains, compromised insulation, and potential mold growth inside the home.
Structural Stress: Over time from ice and snow and freezing temperatures as they pressure builds up your building materials like concrete, wood, and metal can expand and contract, which can lead to cracks in foundations and walls.
HVAC System Strain: Extreme cold forces heating systems to work overtime, increasing energy consumption and the risk of breakdowns. Failure to your HVAC system usually leads to frozen and broken pipes causing extensive water damage though-out your property.
Increased energy demand during severe cold can strain infrastructure, leading to widespread power outages, which can in turn lead to loss of heat and further property damage like frozen indoor pipes. Once the pipes defrost the water will then cause extensive damage to your property.
Before the Polar Vortex hits you should look at some of the ways to prevent property damage:
Insulating Pipes: Protect exposed pipes in unheated areas like basements and crawl spaces with insulation.
Insulation and caulking: A lot of our clients suffered property damage not just from the very cold weather but in combination of strong winds blowing the cold into cracks and hitting pipes in your exterior wall that you didn’t even know were there.
Maintaining Heat: Keep your thermostat set to at least 68°F (or no lower than 55°F if you’re away) to maintain a consistent indoor temperature.
Polar Vortex and Water Damage call us now at 1-516-499-7502 for help!
One of the tricks is to allow Faucets to Drip: Let cold water faucets served by exposed pipes drip slightly to keep water moving and prevent freezing. This is very common and works very well to minimize from pipes.
You should also consider adding temp and water sensors so if you lose electricity or heat or a pipe does break the sensors will alert you to potential damages and you or someone local to your property can take action quickly.
Do you know where your water main shut off is, so you can quickly turn the water to the house off, once again before the whole property is destroyed.
Polar Vortex and Water Damage call us now at 1-516-499-7502 for help!
If you do suffer property damage consider using a licensed Public Adjuster to handle the whole property claim with your insurance company. We get the maximum settlement possible, usually at least 20 percent more than if you try to handle the claim yourself. We only receive a small fee after you are paid. The money and hours it takes to settle the claim is better left to a local Licensed Public Adjuster and net, net you will come out ahead.
We handle property claims from the Hamptons, into New York City including, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens County, The Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Westchester County.
Polar Vortex and Water Damage call us now at 1-516-499-7502 for help!
Call us at 1-516-499-7502 with any insurance claims, questions or if you would like to have us handle the whole claim, damaged structure, damaged contents and temp housing for you. Did you suffer from a Polar Vortex, Wind Damage and Water Damage you need help now!
Polar Vortex and Water Damage call us now for help!
The sooner you call us the better you will feel.