Avoiding frozen pipes in your vacant Wappingers home.

2/10/2020 (Permalink)

Follow these tips to avoid a major headache in your un-occupied home!

If you own a 2nd home, rental property or have a vacant property for sale, it's important to have it winterized or take precautions against the extreme elements the Hudson Valley throws at us in the winter months.

While there are always unforeseen issues that can happen like appliances failing or storm damage, it's the water that causes the most damage. Water can and will get into everything, continuously finding a way out is the name of the game. As we say in the remediation industry, "water always wins."

Couple of key tips for your vacant property to help stave off water damage:

-Don't turn the heat off in the colder months, rather keep it set to at least 55 degrees and make sure you’ve had an oil delivery or are on a schedule for a rotating one if needed.

-Follow good instructions to protect your pipes like wrapping them with pipe insulation, keeping windows and doors sealed and emptying outside spigots and water sources.

-Have your furnace, heating systems and hot water heater checked regularly. All too often, our professionals see these systems fail in the winter for various reasons and they can cause significant water damage and secondary issues like structural problems and mold growth.

-Have someone check on your house regularly for any issues, making sure to pay attention to mechanicals, pipes and leaks. The last thing you want is to be notified that your house is now an igloo.

- Speak with your insurance agent about tips they have and make sure your policy is where it needs to be. If you have a sump pump in the basement or crawl space, make sure you have the necessary coverage for it should there be a system failure.

-Consider a generator, speak with an expert about what you would need one to do for you in the event you’re not around and the power goes out.

-Keep our name and number in your phone and taped to your fridge should anyone ever need it on your behalf.

Should you ever suffer from water damage, or any kind of loss to your property, call the experts in damage restoration. SERVPRO of Western Dutchess County has been the local leader in the industry for over 25 years, we're here to help 24/7 with certified technicians, extensive experience and the best technology around.

Call us immediately so we can give you piece of mind quickly, no matter the damage and no matter the size, 845-831-3600.