| In January of 2005, the Sax family woke up to | | | | Insulate the pipes in your home's crawlspace and attic, |
| discover that the pipes in their family's weekend ski | | | | where pipes are most vulnerable to the cold. The |
| lodge garage had burst. The garage was flooded, but | | | | better the insulation, the better the protection. Be sure |
| that's not the worst of it. The water then froze, | | | | to use products approved by an independent testing |
| encasing all 3 of their cars in a thick layer of ice. It took | | | | organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., |
| hours to chip, crack, pick, and melt their cars free. | | | | and only for their approved use (indoor versus |
| Surveys indicate that "frozen pipes" ranks as the | | | | outdoor). |
| number one fear of vacation homeowners in the | | | | 4. Seal Leaks |
| United States. Water damage is second only to fire | | | | Keep cold air away from your pipes. Seek out air |
| damage in number and amount in insurance claims. | | | | leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents, and pipes. |
| The best way to prevent your pipes from freezing to | | | | Use caulk or insulation to seal out the cold and seal in |
| make sure you never let your home go below | | | | the heat. |
| 55°F. The best way to do that is with a freeze | | | | Enhancing Your Freeze Alarm: When it gets Cold |
| alarm. | | | | 3. Let It Trickle |
| Why Rely on a Freeze Alarm? | | | | Let a little warm water trickle through the pipes |
| A freeze alarm is a sophisticated device designed to | | | | overnight. Use a faucet on an outside wall. |
| grant you peace of mind when it comes to your | | | | 2. Open Cabinet Doors |
| property, be it your year-round home or just a | | | | Open the cabinet doors around your sinks and near |
| vacation spot. A freeze alarm monitors the | | | | appliances to let warm air get to the pipes under your |
| temperature of your home (or vacation home) and will | | | | sinks. Be sure to remove all dangerous cleaning |
| alert you if the temperature drops to dangerous levels. | | | | supplies and chemicals out of the reach of children. |
| The freeze alarm alerts you by calling up to three | | | | Enhancing Your Freeze Alarm: Before You Leave |
| different numbers with a recorded message | | | | 1. Keep Warm |
| announcing the risky change in temperature. The | | | | Set your thermostat no lower than 55°F |
| freeze alarm will not stop calling until you tell it to, | | | | (12°C). |
| ensuring that someone will be alerted to the situation. | | | | Along with a freeze alarm, these actions will help you |
| Ultimately, a freeze alarm ensures that you will always | | | | keep your pipes insulated and prevent freezing. When |
| know what it going on in your home, even if you can't | | | | you install a freeze alarm and take certain measure to |
| be there all the time. | | | | protect your pipes, you can leave your home for a ski |
| But you can do more than just install a freeze alarm | | | | tip and not worry about returning to thousands of |
| and wait for the phone call. You can jump into action | | | | dollars worth of damage. You can own a vacation |
| now to enhance the effectiveness of your freeze | | | | home and enjoy peace of mind knowing it is safe |
| alarm with several other preventive measures. | | | | from water damage. A freeze alarm eliminates that |
| Enhancing Your Freeze Alarm: Before It Gets Cold | | | | number one concern of property owners: frozen pipes. |
| 5. Insulate Pipes | | | | |