Cold weather calls for extra attention to plumbing near exterior walls, garages and other chilly areas. Before a faucet stops running or a stain appears, locate the shut-off valves, prepare outdoor plumbing and check the heating system.

Every home needs measures suited to its equipment. A thermostat setting, faucet cover or dripping tap cannot guarantee that pipes will stay unfrozen.

Start with outdoor taps and hoses

From a safe position, check whether garden hoses have been disconnected and identify the type of outdoor faucet installed. Systems with an interior isolation valve may require a specific shut-off and drainage sequence. Frost-resistant fixtures also need preparation according to their instructions. Toronto recommends disconnecting hoses, closing the appropriate outdoor supply and allowing it to drain. Toronto’s pipe-freeze prevention guidance

Do not unscrew a small valve cap simply because it looks like a drain. If the arrangement is unclear, corroded or leaking, or you cannot confirm proper drainage, ask a plumber. A suitable protective cover may supplement the process; it does not replace drainage, repairs or correct operation.

Check conditions around indoor pipes

Pay attention to the water meter, exterior-wall pipework, cabinets and garages. Have inadequate insulation or cold-air entry investigated. Never seal combustion-air or exhaust openings as part of draught proofing.

Where heat must be maintained, use settings appropriate to the building, professional advice and policy requirements. A range such as 15–18°C is not a universal safe setting. The room containing the thermostat may be warmer than concealed plumbing.

Opening cabinets near pipes can help warm air circulate. First secure cleaning products from children and pets. If a section has frozen before, have the cause investigated rather than relying on the same temporary response each cold spell.

Should you leave a tap dripping?

Some municipal water services recommend a controlled flow for specific vulnerable service pipes. That is not a universal instruction for every household. Ask the local utility or a qualified plumber whether it applies, how it should be done, when to stop, and what drainage and water-billing issues to consider. Do not leave taps running unattended as a substitute for a freeze-prevention or home-care plan. Ottawa’s guidance for vulnerable water-service pipes

If a tap stops running, investigate before applying heat

The problem may be inside the house, in the service pipe or with municipal supply. Check for utility notices and observe safely for signs of freezing or leakage. Contact a plumber or the water utility if the location is unclear, the affected pipe is concealed, or damage is visible.

Never use a torch, open flame or intense heat on a frozen pipe. Do not use electrical equipment in wet conditions. A split may become apparent during thawing or after service returns, so restored flow is not the end of the check. Toronto recommends a licensed plumber if you cannot locate or resolve the frozen section. Toronto’s frozen-pipe response guidance

If water is already leaking

• Keep people away from hazards; call 911 for an immediate threat to life
• Close the appropriate water supply only if the valve is safely accessible and you know how to operate it
• Do not enter water, operate panels or start pumps if electrical equipment may be affected; contact the utility and a Licensed Electrical Contractor
• Call a plumber, notify your insurer promptly, and document damage and mitigation when safe

An apparent power outage does not prove floodwater is electrically safe. ESA advises professional assessment of water-affected electrical systems. ESA’s flood-safety guidance

How does insurance treat frozen pipes?

Coverage for a sudden escape of water after freezing depends on the cause, exclusions and any heating, absence or vacancy conditions. Ask separately about the pipe repair and resulting property damage. A burst does not automatically make every cost payable. Square One’s consumer guidance also describes restrictions on frozen-pipe claims, including precautions while away. Square One on frozen pipes and insurance

For an extended absence, review inspections, heating and any professional drain-down arrangements separately. A neighbour looking at the house from outside may not satisfy the policy. Where damage has occurred, hidden moisture and restoration also need attention.

Contact A-Z Insurance to review your policy’s requirements. Phone: 905-707-2929. Email: info@azinsure.ca.

This is general prevention and insurance information, not a substitute for an on-site plumbing, electrical or insurance assessment. Follow equipment instructions and site conditions. No measure guarantees prevention or claim payment.

Before a winter holiday, family visit or business trip, make a plan for the home you are leaving behind. Who will check the heat? Who will respond to a leak? Does your insurer require particular precautions for this absence?

Good preparation can reduce damage and help you meet policy obligations. No universal checklist guarantees payment, let alone full reimbursement. Start with your own insurance wording and a plan suited to the building’s systems.

Temporarily unoccupied and vacant can mean different things

A home left temporarily for a holiday may be treated differently from one whose occupants have moved out, such as a property awaiting sale or new tenants. Furniture and the number of days away are not enough, by themselves, to determine the policy’s classification. TD Insurance’s consumer guidance distinguishes temporary absence from vacancy and advises homeowners to check their specific requirements. TD on vacancy and temporary absence

Nor is 30 days a Canada-wide safe period. Some vacancy provisions use a time threshold, but restrictions on particular losses may apply sooner. A genuinely vacant home may need written permission, an endorsement or different insurance. Permission to keep a policy in force may still come with reduced coverage. Ask early rather than waiting for day 30. Intact’s vacant-home guidance

Questions to settle before you leave

Give your broker the planned departure and return dates, whether anyone will remain, any rental plans, and the proposed heating and caretaker arrangements. Ask for confirmation against the actual policy:

• Is this temporary absence, seasonal use or vacancy?
• When do any notification or precaution requirements begin?
• Must someone enter the home, what must they check, and how often?
• What heating, water shut-off or drainage measures apply? Are they cumulative requirements or permitted alternatives?
• Can approved monitoring equipment substitute for visits, and under what conditions?
• What should happen if your trip is extended or the caretaker cannot attend?

Keep the response with your travel documents and share the practical instructions with the person looking after the home. General travel tips should not be treated as contractual terms.

Heating: do not rely on one temperature number

There is no reason to assume that 13°C, 15°C or 16°C is the required setting for every home and policy. Where heat must be maintained, follow the policy, equipment instructions and professional advice. Consider vulnerable areas as well as the thermostat: pipes near exterior walls or an unheated garage may face different conditions.

Toronto recommends keeping the home warm, including around the water meter, even while away. Opening cabinets around plumbing can help warm air circulate; first secure any cleaning products that children or pets could reach. Toronto’s frozen-pipe prevention advice

Water shut-off and drainage need a system-specific plan

For an extended absence, shutting off the appropriate domestic supply and draining plumbing as directed may limit a continuing leak. Confirm the approach against the policy and the home’s equipment rather than closing every valve on the way out.

Have qualified plumbing, heating or fire-protection professionals assess the plan if the home has hydronic heating, a boiler, fire sprinklers or other equipment that needs water. Fire sprinklers can have a separate or shared supply; the wrong shut-off can disable their water supply. NFPA on residential sprinkler supply arrangements

Opening every faucet is not a complete winterization procedure. Water heaters, appliances, pumps, traps and concealed pipework may need their own measures. A long-term shutdown should be assessed professionally. Do not turn off the heat and assume a quick drain-down has removed all freeze risk.

Prepare exterior plumbing too. Follow the equipment requirements for disconnecting garden hoses, closing the appropriate outdoor supply and draining it. Check previously frozen areas and cold-air entry points before departure. Intact’s fall and winter maintenance advice

Plan both the visits and the response

Use the inspection frequency specified in your policy or confirmed by the insurer. There is no universal four-, seven- or fourteen-day schedule. Agree on dates, appoint a backup person, and explain access, alarm and emergency arrangements.

A useful caretaker checklist can include:

• Entering the home to check heating, power and equipment alerts
• Looking for leaks around kitchens, bathrooms, laundry equipment, the water heater and basement
• Noting new stains, unusual damp smells or standing water
• Recording visit dates, observations and any action taken
• Contacting you promptly and seeking help under the agreed plan when something is wrong

Temperature sensors, leak alarms and cameras can supplement checks. Do not assume they satisfy a requirement for physical visits. Confirm the arrangement with the insurer before leaving. TD’s vacation-home precautions

Look beyond heating when preparing the house

Lock doors and windows, check security equipment, and arrange mail, deliveries and necessary yard or snow maintenance. Give a trusted person access, emergency contacts and clear authority to respond.

Do not turn off the whole home’s electricity simply to save energy. Pumps, security systems, alarms, heating controls and other essential equipment may depend on continuous power. Follow equipment and professional advice before disconnecting individual appliances. A lived-in appearance supplements security but does not replace required inspections. TD’s departure-preparation guidance

If you have moved out or are awaiting a sale or tenant, describe that situation accurately. A relative’s brief visit should not be assumed to change the property’s vacancy status; ask how the insurer defines and accepts the arrangement.

Records help explain a claim; they do not guarantee payment

Visit logs, photos, invoices and alerts can document the home’s condition and the care provided. They cannot turn an excluded loss into an insured one or eliminate deductibles and limits. If damage is discovered, prioritize safety, notify the insurer promptly and take reasonable steps to prevent further damage as directed.

Before your next trip, contact A-Z Insurance to review the questions that matter for your absence and policy. Phone: 905-707-2929. Email: info@azinsure.ca.

This is general information, not a substitute for policy wording, individualized insurance advice or professional winterization assessment. Coverage, notification, inspection and maintenance requirements vary by policy.