frozen water pipes

The lower the temperature the higher the chance for frozen pipes.  Most policies will pay for damage caused by water escaping from the pipes but who wants to pay a deductible along with the mess and bother.  Make sure your furnace is in good working condition, keep the house heated to at least 60 degrees, know where the water main shutoff is in your home and consider draining the pipes if you plan to be away several months in the winter.  In the event of a broken pipe turn off the water main to your home, open the faucets in the basement to decrease the water pressure, call a vendor specializing in water mitigation, call a plumber then call your friendly agent to report the claim.  Remember an ouce of prevention will prevent thousands of gallons of water from damaging your house.