Insurer says to cover your pipes

Temperatures have already been dipping into the 20s across Iowa, prompting renewed warnings for people to winterize their water pipes. Mark Yontz, spokesman for State Farm Insurance — Iowa’s largest home insurer — says it’s an expensive season ahead.State Farm pays out 57-million dollars for water damage claims during the average winter. Yontz says Iowa homeowners can do a few simple things to preserve their pipes and prevent an expensive cascade of damaging water spilling from a burst pipe.In addition to shutting off the water to outside faucets, Yontz says homeowners can quickly head off any potential freezing pipe problems elsewhere in their homes.Temperatures only need to dip below 20 degrees for pipes to burst. For vacationers, he recommends leaving the thermostat at 55-degrees, no lower, to maintain adequate heat. Yontz also recommends running a small trickle of water at vulnerable cold and hot faucets.