|
What to do if the Power Goes Out
Your major concern is frozen plumbing. Your policy may cover you for such an event, but you don’t want to pay a large deductible or loose your claims free discount unnecessarily.
Houses will cool off at different rates depending on the construction and insulation. If you are concerned that the temperature is getting too low, the simplest solution is to turn on all the taps just a little. The slow trickle will keep the water moving, and it will take much longer for it to freeze.
If you are unable to be at the house to monitor the situation, the safest solution is to shut off the water supply at the metre and open all the taps. This will drain the plumbing for most of the house, except for pipes below the lowest tap. Don’t worry about the hot water tank in the short term. It would take a few days to cool down enough to freeze.
If the water is shut off, then you also need to protect the traps (drains). You can easily purchase plumbing antifreeze, or failing that, use windshield washer antifreeze. Pour about two cups down each trap. Flush the toilet to drain the tank, and then pour some antifreeze into the tank and bowl. (about a litre in the bowl, and ½ litre in the bottom of the tank.)
If you have hot water heating, you have an additional problem. However, we have been advised by a heating/plumbing contractor that it would likely take more than 24 hours for it to freeze sufficiently to burst a pipe or rad.
Please exercise caution if you are tempted to build a roaring fire in you fireplace if the chimney has not been cleaned in the past year. Creosote build-up in the chimney can result in a chimney fire which can spread beyond the chimney and set fire to the house.
If you still have questions or concerns, you should call a qualified heating/plumbing contractor.
If you have any questions about your policy, we are always here to help.
|
