(pic from Flickr user cynthiscloskey)

I read a story this morning about how some U.S. residents are staying warm during the country's cold snap by burning their Christmas trees, wrapping paper and holiday gift boxes. And one of the biggest problems that continually occur during cold snaps is water pipes bursting. I was having a beverage with a couple friends at the No Wake Zone last night and one of my friends mentioned that, after returning from 5 days away over the holidays, he only had running water in his bathroom sink. Everything else was frozen! What a mess. Turns out the average cost of a water damage claim from frozen pipes is $15,000. 

Here are some tips to minimize the risk of freezing pipes:

- Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to piping under sinks and vanities near exterior walls

- Run a small trickle of water from hot and cold faucets during extreme cold

- Keep exterior doors to unheated spaces closed as much as possible during winter months

My friend who lives in Daytona Beach keeps telling me that living there avoids these problems, too. :-)

-Shelly Knight