Current Risk Alert

Extreme Cold – Frozen Pipe Alert: February 14, 2020

Extreme cold temperatures in the low teens to single digits are expected overnight. Because this is a three-day weekend for many schools and parish offices, please be sure vacant buildings maintain a temperature of 68° F all weekend long. This may temporarily increase your heating costs, but it’s a small price to pay to avoid more costly damage and inconvenience caused by frozen pipes.

There is a significant risk of frozen and burst pipes, which can result in millions of dollars in property damage. In addition to the recommendation above, please take measures to prevent frozen pipes:

• Maintenance personnel should check facilities, ESPECIALLY UNOCCUPIED BUILDINGS, in the morning and evening each day.
• If you lose heat and are unable to restore heat before the low temperatures begin, shut off the water supply and drain pipes. This will prevent water from freezing and bursting the pipes. If you are unable to drain the pipes, open the taps a little to allow water to trickle out. If you chose this option, please monitor the taps on a regular basis.

Please be vigilant! Previous cold snaps resulted in over $8 million in property damage from frozen pipes alone. Frozen pipes can be prevented!

Heating Safety
When heating your facility, rectory or home, do it safely. For heating safety tips, go to: https://www.mass.gov/winter-home-heating-safety

Property Damage
If you experience property damage, immediately call the Office of Risk Management at 617-746-5743. For a list of service vendors, go to: http://rcabrisk.org/vendors

RCAB Contact List: http://rcabrisk.org/contact