Frozen Pipes: A Winter Risk for your Hospitality Business

On a frosty Alberta night, a maintenance worker made his usual rounds down the quiet hotel corridor. Behind the walls, however, a hidden water line had frozen solid. Though invisible to the eye, the pressure inside was steadily building. If left unchecked, the pipe could burst, sending water rushing through hallways and rooms. Such an incident might disrupt operations, force temporary closures that impact your bottom line, and inconvenience guests; all reminders of how important it is to stay vigilant during the winter months.

Signs that your pipes are frozen:

• If you turn the water on and barely any comes out, your pipes are frozen.
• Check exposed pipes for frost; if they are frosty, they could be frozen.
• Odors coming from drains or faucets mean that pipes could be blocked by ice.

 

How to prevent frozen pipes:

• Have furnaces and boilers checked and serviced by a qualified heating contractor every fall to ensure they are working properly.
• Check rooms frequently during cold snaps to ensure that all windows and exterior doors are closed properly, and that heating systems are functioning correctly.
• Do not turn down thermostats below 10°C (50°F) in unoccupied areas, especially during cold weather. Furnace failure could result in frozen pipes in a very short time.
• Install low-temperature alarms that will alert an alarm center if inside temperatures drop to 5°C (41°F).
• Store temporary heaters on the property that could be used quickly in case of furnace failure.
• Maintain a 24-hour emergency contact phone list for staff to use in case of emergencies such as power failure, furnace failure or frozen pipes.
• Locate emergency shut-offs for water lines and sprinkler systems and ensure that staff knows where the shut-offs are located and how to shut them down to reduce the damage.

 

What to do if your pipes are frozen:

• If any frozen pipes have burst, call a plumber to avoid a flood. If they are frozen but not broken, take these steps to thaw them:
• Turn the water off at the main shutoff valve.
• Turn on a faucet so that water can flow through the pipe when the ice begins melting.
• Heat the frozen section of pipe with a space heater, hairdryer, or an electric heating pad.
• Apply heat until the water pressure returns.
• Remove furniture and fixtures from the area so they are not damaged in case the frozen pipe bursts.
• Check all faucets in the hotel in case any other pipes have frozen.
• Check for damage to other rooms.
• Report to your insurance company.

 

By turning awareness into action, you can prevent risks, protect guests, and preserve your reputation. Equally important is ensuring you have the right protection in place should emergencies occur. Western Financial Group offers AHLA members access to tailored coverage that helps keep operations steady when challenges arise. Additionally, members can check out the Water Damage Prevention module available in TourismWorks: Loss Prevention & Risk Management for Hotel course.

Stay prepared this winter. Review your coverage and ensure your hotel is protected.