DENVER -- The extended cold snap has prompted insurance companies to call in more adjusters as thousands of pipes continue to burst across the state of Colorado.
These days, plumbers like Steve Pressdee double as contortionists of sorts. Pressdee's spent a lot of time squeezing through tight spots lately."We've been going the best part of 48 hours pretty much non-stop," said Pressdee who works for Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.
The prolonged cold is taking it's toll on old pipes at homes, businesses and vacant buildings. State Farm Insurance reports more than 500 claims in Colorado in the past week, most of them here on the Front Range."We have more frozen pipes than we've seen in a lot of years," said Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. “Even a small amount of water can cause serious damage to your home. The average water damage claim is estimated at $5,500, but can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars with a broken pipe spewing gallons of water onto floors, furniture and personal property.”There have been so many claims, the insurance industry has declared this a natural catastrophe, much like a bad hail storm.Water damage from broken pipes can be costly, but fortunately covered under most homeowners and renters insurance policies."We are not going in and fixing anything else, we're just doing bursts so people can have their water back on," said Pressdee.This call brought Pressdee to the home of Frank and Larinda Cummings in south Denver. The Cummings' are fresh off a move here from San Francisco where this just doesn't happen."Earthquakes, but not frozen pipes," said Frank Cummings.Pressdee hasn't always been familiar with this kind of work either, but he's an expert now."Since moving here from England I've learned that the cup is half full," said Pressdee. "Living in Colorado you're always going to have freezes and you can do your very best, that's all you can do. And you can pray hard."Pressdee said homeowners and renters should always know where their main shut-off valve is in the home. That way, homeowners can quickly minimize water damage.Also, Walker said if you can't get an insurance adjuster out right away, do some temporary repairs and save your receipts because those are likely reimbursable expenses under your insurance policy.
