Wall Hydrant Made Easy™ Helps to Mitigate Insurance Claims for Water Damage and Freezing
A recent report published by ISO®, a Verisk Analytics® business, showed that one out of every fifty homes suffered from water damage and freezing each year from 2013-2017. In 2015, water damage and freezing accounted for 46.1% of all homeowner’s insurance claims. With an average claim value of $10,234, 2017 saw $13 billion in insurance payouts due to water damage and freezing.
While the report does not spell out all of the particular causes within the category of “water damage and freezing,” the experienced homeowner or plumber knows that much of this $13 billion was certainly related to improper winterization of homes. “Winterizing” simply refers to the process of protecting water pipes or fixtures from freezing in cold weather. Methods of winterization vary from insulating pipes to heat tracing to shutting off and draining pipes during the winter months. “Freezeless” or “frost-free” design of devices is another means to ready a home for freezing weather.
In order to have an outdoor water source, even during freezing weather, most homes in the colder states have one or more frost-free wall hydrants, also known as sillcocks, lawn faucets, hose bibbs, spigots, or house hydrants. These hydrants all have a tube that extends into the warmer area of the house or crawlspace. When the hydrant is turned off, a valve closes near the end of the tube, and the water in the hydrant drains out of the hydrant spout. This is all fine and dandy… until you leave your hose attached. When that happens, the hydrant cannot properly drain, leaving water inside the hydrant, exposed to freezing temperatures.
We hear stories all the time from plumbers and homeowners who have seen this happen. Oftentimes, when this occurs, the water in the hydrant will freeze and rupture the hydrant tube inside the house or crawlspace. Whenever the hydrant thaws, water then spews into the house, leading to flooding and/or water damage inside the crawlspace, wall, or finished basement.
Our patented Wall Hydrant Made Easy™ prevents this type of damage by encapsulating the hydrant. If the hydrant ever does rupture in this manner (I think we’ve all left a hose attached at some point), the water will be contained and expelled outside, away from the home, saving your nice finished basement from an unwanted overhaul (or your crawlspace from unwanted mold). Not only that, but if the hydrant ever needs to be replaced for any reason, the Wall Hydrant Made Easy™ allows you to replace it in just a few minutes, from outside. So you don’t have to go under the house or tear into a wall or basement ceiling to get to the water connection as you would otherwise.
The Wall Hydrant Made Easy™ can be used in new home construction as well as hydrant replacements on existing homes. Take a few minutes to browse our website and check out our videos to learn more. And feel free to give us a call any time if you have any questions.