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How to Prevent Your Water Pipes and Meter From Freezing
Outdoor Faucets
Disconnect garden hoses from all outdoor faucets. This allows water to drain from frost free faucets.
If your home is older, the outdoor faucets may not be frost free:
Find shut-off valve in the basement or crawl space where the pipe feeding the faucet goes to the outside.
Shut it off.
Open the outside faucet to make sure the faucet drains and the valve is completely shut off.
Now the outside faucet can be left open.
Framed Buildings
Check along the foundation for places cold winter winds can blow into the basement or crawl space. Plug them up with insulation.
Check where the base plate of the building sets on the foundation. Even the slightest crack will allow cold air to enter.
If your water pipes and/or water meter is on an outside wall, be sure they are not boxed in preventing heat from reaching them.
If your pipes and/or water meter are boxed in, be sure to have doors that can be opened or panels that are louvered so the warmth from the basement can reach the fixtures.
Mobile Homes
Make sure the skirting is in place and blocks the wind from blowing under the trailer.
Water pipes under the trailer can be wrapped with heat tape.
The meter can be wrapped too, as long as the heat tape is not touching the plastic face of the meter.
Thank you to all the veterans, military personnel and their families who have sacrificed so much to ensure our freedom.
These are some great tips. Please read them and make sure you do not fall victim to storm chasers. Do your homework when choosing a contractor. Check out their reputation, look for experiences and longevity. Never sign a contract or agreement on impulse without talking to your insurance company.Important steps you should take if your property was damaged by the storms this weekend:
1. Immediately take photos and thoroughly document all damage before beginning any cleanup or repairs.
2. Then, take steps to prevent further destruction of the property. Cover broken windows and holes in roofs, put tarps over places that could get more water or wind damage, etc.
3. Contact your insurance company and get the claims process started. Make sure you understand your deductible, what is and isn’t covered, and your responsibilities.
4. Don’t sign an agreement with a contractor until you’ve talked to your insurance agent or company representative.
5. Beware of high-pressure sales tactics and unsolicited offers from contractors. Don’t feel rushed to sign a repair contract. Get multiple bids and check references. Choose a contractor who will work with your insurance adjuster to assess damage and costs of repair.
6. Verify that the contractor you’re considering is registered to do business in Montana, has workers compensation insurance, liability insurance, and is bonded.
7. Get a written contract and never pay in full for work before it’s completed.
8. Maintain ownership of the process: don’t hand over Power of Attorney or responsibility for settling the insurance claim, don’t sign a contract that has blanks or isn’t thorough.
9. When dealing with damage to vehicles or trailers, work with reputable auto body shops and get multiple bids.
10. Contact my office with questions or concerns about insurance at 444-2040 or csimt.gov
11. Contact the Montana Office of Consumer Protection with concerns about contractors at 444-4500 or dojmt.gov/consumer
12. If you dodged impacts from the recent storms, take time to review your insurance policy, pay attention to your deductibles and other details, and make sure you have the coverage you want in case of future weather damage.
More info: csimt.gov/news/important-steps-to-take-after-hail-and-storm-damage/
Delivering appreciation gifts to the Veterans at the Grace Home Veterans Center! Thank you to all of the Veterans out there!!!!
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5000 9th Avenue S. • Great Falls, MT 59405
Phone: 406.453.3923 Fax: 406.453.3949 • Toll Free: 1.800.310.3923
Phone: 406.453.3923 Fax: 406.453.3949 • Toll Free: 1.800.310.3923