Water damage, especially if not promptly attended to, is very costly to repair. So here are some things to be aware of, to avoid flooding from broken pipes:
- if water doesn’t turn on, your pipes could be frozen; turn off the main valve and call your plumber immediately.
- if you have outdoor pipes, cover them with insulation; inside, make sure all areas of your home are kept warm; open cabinet doors to let warm air in.
- if you suspect a frozen pipe, until things start to thaw, it may be difficult to determine exactly where the blockage is. As they start to thaw, they may rupture – make sure you know how to turn off the water to avoid potential catastrophe.
- as leaks can turn into rivers in a heartbeat, make sure you do not leave your property unattended if you suspect a frozen pipe
- re-check your property insurance policy. While most cover water damage from broken pipes, you will need to prove that you properly drained exterior plumbing lines, and maintained adequate temperature inside.

Have questions? Need help? We’d love to hear from you!

There are few basic precautions to consider, so you and your family stay safe and warm:

- have your heating appliances inspected by a certified professional
- operate gas or kerosene space heaters with the greatest care, as they account for the highest fatality risk protect floors under wood burning stoves, and leave enough clearance, as stray embers or overheating could easily start a fire
- for electric appliances, check all cords, and make sure you don’t overload the circuits when plugging them in.
have your vents and chimneys inspected and cleaned every season
- keep all combustibles away from any heaters
- don’t leave any open fires unattended (candles, cigarettes, fireplaces, stoves, etc)
- make sure your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector (a must if you are using any space heaters besides electrical) are working properly
- talk to you kids about fire safety. As most fires occurs at night – having a clear fire escape plan that your kids understand and have practiced dramatically increases their chance of surviving one.

We hope you stay warm and safe, as the the cold weather is here for a little while longer.

We had a very strong year, handling over 200 claims for families and businesses all over Michigan. While that in itself meant a lot of hard work and long hours for our team, the success we had in recuperating property losses for our clients makes it especially rewarding. For our company, there is a direct correlation between our success and how well we do for our clients. So I know, that our success also means families being able to rebuild their lives and businesses getting a new chance to prosper.

To our customers, as they settle into their new lives, post fire or flood, we are grateful we had the chance to help you through such difficult times, and we wish you the best of luck. Also, as most of our business comes from referrals, our sincere gratitude to all customers and partners for helping us have a stellar 2010!

Michigan Fire Claims

While no one likes to think of fires other than the one in the fireplace, believe us, it happens; we see it every day. Loosing all you’ve got in a fire is not an easy thing for anyone, but eventually life goes on and thing get better. You buy new things, re-build your house, etc. However, while material things will be replaced, a life cannot!

So, please, as you start baking, decorating, lighting the candles, etc., don’t forget to take the necessary precautions to help protect your family and property. Here’s a video from the US Fire Administration and NIST showing it takes less than a minute for the Christmas tree to catch on fire and engulf the living room. Don’t let it happen to you!

If you have small children in your family, take the time to talk to them again about fire safety and the fire evacuation plan. If the unthinkable happens, having rehearsed these, will dramatically decrease their chance of fire related injuries.

From everyone here at Michigan Fire Claims Inc., we wish everyone a safe and joyous holiday season!