Preventing Frozen Pipes and Winter Water Damage in Church Buildings

Fire gets the attention, but water causes more church property claims than anything else. The reason is structural to how ministry buildings are used: a large facility occupied heavily for a few hours a week, with the thermostat set back the rest of the time, and no one walking the halls between Sunday and Wednesday. A pipe that lets go on Monday morning can run for three days.

Before the first freeze

Insulate pipes in attics, crawl spaces, exterior walls and unheated stairwells. Shut off and drain exterior spigots and irrigation lines. Service the boiler or furnace and confirm the low-temperature cutoff works. Clear gutters and downspouts so meltwater drains away from the foundation, and extend downspouts well past the building line. Inspect the roof, flashing and any flat-roof drains. Seal gaps where cold air reaches plumbing — a small penetration in a sill plate is enough to freeze a line.

Set the thermostat like a facility manager, not a homeowner

Never set back below 55°F in any space containing plumbing. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls. Keep interior doors open so heat circulates to back rooms, bathrooms and kitchens that nobody visits midweek.

Cheap technology that prevents very expensive claims

Low-temperature sensors and water-leak detectors that text a staff member cost very little and repeatedly pay for themselves. An automatic water shutoff valve on the main is the single most effective device a church can install. Many carriers offer credits for them.

Know where the shutoff is — and who can reach it

Tag the main water shutoff and label every zone valve. Post the location in the office and give at least three people, including a keyholder who lives nearby, the ability to get in and shut it down. Walk the building at least twice midweek during winter months and log it.

Snow, ice and slip-and-fall

Winter's other claim is liability. Have a written snow-and-ice contract in place before the season, with the contractor's certificate of insurance on file naming the church as additional insured. Keep a log of every treatment: date, time, conditions, what was applied. That log is often the deciding evidence in a slip-and-fall claim.

Review your property program

Confirm your policy includes water damage, sewer and drain backup, and ordinance or law coverage, and that your business income limit reflects months rather than weeks. The Ministry Insured team will walk your program with you — call 800-318-6717.