Page 12 - AAA Findlay Automobile Club – AAA Now! – January/February 2017

INSURANCE SERVICES
Protect Your Pipes from the Deep Freeze
AAA Offers Tips For Protecting Your Plumbing When the Mercury Drops
Dale Metzger
Insurance Manager
(419) 422-4839
With the onset of cold weather, pipes are at risk
of freezing due to sudden temperature drops, poor insulation, or incorrect thermostat settings. This winter, AAA Findlay Automobile Club offers suggestions that can help
pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance that pipes inside the house will freeze.
• If a freeze is expected, consider allowing warm water to drip slightly overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall. Even a slight trickle may keep your pipes from freezing.
• When there is the possibility of a freeze, don’t turn down the thermostat at bedtime, and instead maintain the same setting day and night. Drops in temperature, which are more common overnight, could freeze your pipes.
• Open cabinet doors. This will allow heat to reach uninsulated pipes located under sinks.
RECOVERING FROM FROZEN PIPES:
• If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, your pipes are likely frozen.
• You may be able to use a hair dryer to thaw a frozen pipe. Begin by warming the section of pipe closest to the faucet, then work your way out toward the coldest part of the pipe.
• Never use a hair dryer or any electrical appliances in areas of standing water. You could be electrocuted.
• Never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame. It could cause a fire.
prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting, which can cause significant damage and expense.
“Freezing temperatures put your pipes at risk, and recovery can be difficult and costly,” said Dale Metzger, who leads the insurance division of AAA Findlay. “Both plastic and copper pipes can burst, and a 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water per day, causing flooding, serious structural damage, and the potential for mold.”
PREVENTING FROZEN PIPES:
• Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shut-off valve is and how it works.
• Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic, even if you live in an area where freezing temperatures are unlikely.
• Seal leaks around pipes that allow cold air inside. You should also look for air leaks around electrical wiring, clothes dryer vents and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out.
• Disconnect garden hoses. If possible, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from
• If your water pipes have already burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house, leave the water faucets turned on, and call a plumber.
“Prevention is the key to protecting your home this winter, and a few simple steps can help you avoid a frozen pipes nightmare,” said Dale. “For added peace of mind, it’s a good idea to make sure you have adequate homeowners' insurance.”
Contact your AAA agent to see what discounts you may be eligible for and what type of additional coverage you might need. Call (419) 422-4839 to speak to a AAA insurance representative.
Trip Insurance Is “Peace of Mind” Insurance
Continued from page 7
Find out if your personal policies cover lost luggage. If you have an umbrella policy, lost luggage may already be covered.
Check with your medical insurance provider before purchasing extra coverage for your overseas trip. Many United States health plans do not cover you outside of America, unless you are traveling on business. There are several international medical policies available that can be customized to fit your travel plans. Also, if you are a senior citizen, you should assume that Medicare will not cover you while you are in a foreign country.
AAA advises travelers to do their homework before purchasing travel insurance. For instance, request the full contract so you will know everything that the policy covers. In this way you will be able to read the fine print — the growing list of restrictions that are being imposed by some insurance companies.
AAA ADVISES AGAINST:
Purchasing a policy from the wholesale tour operator from which you bought the trip. If that company goes out of business, the chances are very good your policy will be worthless.
Buying trip insurance from a cruise line because their policies can carry less coverage, and their benefits may stop between 24 and 72 hours before you depart. AAA recommends a policy that will cover you up to the departure time and/or throughout the entire trip.
AAA suggests learning more about the benefits of purchasing trip insurance from a qualified travel professional, such as a AAA travel agent. Travel insurance is your safety net should the unexpected arise, but it is up to you — the traveler — if it is right for you.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017