Photo Courtesy: http://www.trinitytitletx.com/
That right there is a frozen pipe ladies and gentleman. Let that soak in.
When living in an apartment, you can become liable for any damages if you do not follow the necessary precautions to prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting in your home. When pipes burst not only could your apartment flood but your neighbors as well and if you are on the third floor or higher, that could mean every apartment beneath you. Yikes. (This is a great time to put in a plug for renters insurance. All Camden communities require you to have renters insurance and thank goodness for that. You never know what kind of situation will happen and it’s imperative that you make sure it stays current and active while you live there.) But alas, your pipes and your wallet do not have to suffer by following a simple to-do list. I personally did this yesterday before work because we received our freeze alert as our temperatures here in Raleigh went down to a single digit last night. Brrrrrrr. So check out the list below if you are under a freeze warning. Mind you, if you own a home, this would be perfect for you, too. This is not simply for those who live in apartments.
To-Do List
- Leave the heat on 24 hours a day at a temperature setting of no less than 55 degrees. Keep all windows closed. Be sure to leave the cabinet doors under the kitchen and bathroom sinks open to allow heat to get to the plumbing.
- Allow ALL faucets (sinks, tubs and showers) in the apartment home to drip 24 hours a day at the rate of 6-8 drops per minute if under 32 but above zero. This includes both cold and hot water. The faucets should be allowed to drip while you are in the apartment home as well as while you are out.
- Allow ALL faucets (sinks, tubs and showers) in the apartment home to drip 24 hours a day at a steady, pencil lead size stream if below zero. This includes both cold and hot water. The faucets should be allowed to drip while you are in the apartment as well as while you are out.
- If your washer/dryer connections are outside on your patio:
• Please keep the doors to the area tightly closed.
• Check the heater and/or heat lamp installed in your outside washer/dryer room to make certain it is functioning properly. - Leave all drains open, including lavatories, sinks and bathtubs.
- Notify management IMMEDIATELY if you notice any running water. As authorized in your Apartment Rental Contract, management may enter your apartment home to check for leaks and/or damage.
So there you have it. Do the above to avoid this:
Photo Courtesy : http://www.gawaterandfire.com
Which leads to this:
Photo Courtesy: http://www.paintermommy.com
Here’s to your flood free winter!
