The NJ winter home checklist: pipes, ice dams and claims

Water does the damage. A frozen pipe that bursts can release hundreds of gallons into walls and floors in a single night, and ice dams push meltwater back under shingles. Both are covered by most home policies, but both are miserable to live through.

Before the first hard freeze:

The pipes that freeze are the ones along exterior walls, in unheated garages and in crawl spaces. Insulate them, keep the thermostat steady when you travel and open cabinet doors under sinks on the coldest nights.

Know where your main water shutoff is. In a burst-pipe emergency, that valve is the difference between a mess and a disaster.

While you are at it, confirm two policy details: water backup coverage for sump and drain overflow, and ordinance or law coverage if your home is older. Both are cheap, and both are the gaps we see most in winter claims.