Polar temperatures are coming; prepare against frozen/burst pipes.

Chicago is a seasonal city, and that certainly includes winter.   Every winter there seems to be a few stretches where the temperatures fall well below freezing. Seminary Properties is always available to assist with mechanical concerns at every apartment we manage.   There are also steps tenants can take to prevent pipes from freezing, or worse, bursting, when temperatures fall below 25 degrees.

1)     Heat: Always leave your heat on!  Per the Seminary Properties lease, during the winter no apartment should have their heat off or set below 55 degrees. During extreme cold temperatures it is great to set your temperature no lower than 65 degrees.

2)     Thermostat: Check and replace thermostat batteries.  The thermostat tells the furnace to heat the air in the apartment to a set temperature.  If the batteries are dying or dead, it cannot communicate with the furnace and your apartment won’t be heated.  Tips to change thermostat batteries: Self help tips: Changing Thermostat Batteries (youtube.com)

3)     Water: When the temperatures are very cold, frozen pipes can occur.   If a pipe freezes, or worse, bursts, this can require a difficult and lengthy repair and will result in water damage to your personal property.  To prevent frozen pipes, there are two preventative measures that can be taken:

a.     Leave cabinet doors open under all sinks. This allows warmer air to touch the pipes.

b.     Leave hot and cold water running in all sinks.  Water that is in motion is less likely to freeze. Here are tips for running water in your sinks: How to prevent your pipes from freezing as temperatures start dropping (youtube.com)

4)     Windows: Make sure apartment windows are fully closed and locked.  Many people will close a window, but not check to make sure the two halves of the window locks line up. If the locks do not line up, the window is not fully sealed. Tips to close and seal a window: How to properly lock double hung windows. (youtube.com)

5)     Doors: Make sure that all apartment doors are closed and locked using all available locks.  It is common that people only use their doorknob lock to secure their apartment and balcony doors.  All the locks on a door serve as protection and also help to keep the door fully closed, preventing cold air from accessing the home.   If your door has a deadbolt and a doorknob lock, engage both.

6)     Have the Seminary Properties emergency line available in case you encounter problems. We are available to help and want to make sure your home is working properly. The emergency number is 773-977-8072.

Extreme cold weather will happen during Chicago winters. Take these steps to make sure you are warm and safe during our coldest temperatures.