When temperatures run severely hot or cold, major discomfort can occur. High heating or cooling bills can be hazardous to your wallet. But much more hazardous to both your economic and literal well being is the damage that temperature extremes can cause to your plumbing system.

Home owners have reported loss due to damage caused by either frozen or broken water pipes as second in cost only to hurricane damage. With repair costs for burst pipes running into thousands, it stands to reason that a practical home or business owner will want to prevent such damage from occurring in the first place. Most such damage happens in less than several hours time from a pipe’s bursting.

To eliminate or minimize the damage caused by such breakage, using a home or business security system that includes environmental alarm features focused on flooding and freezing is a sensible plan.

If an alarm system notifies you in time to shut off water, contain a leak, or even repair a problem, you can avoid damage due to ruined or rotted dry wall, mold and mildew, wood warping, damaged carpet, and of course possession loss. That’s where a flood alarm can be a real life saver, or at least a property saver.

There are other practical steps you can take as well to prevent this type of water damage. You can disconnect outside hoses and connections that reach your home’s interior or near to it. You can also drain any water from inside pipes that lead to faucets outside the home, and consider purchasing foam insulation to protect outside fixtures and faucets.

If your house is vacant during winter months, keep the heat thermostat set to at least fifty-five degrees to prevent the house from getting too cold. Also, consider asking for a neighbors help if you’re planning an extended vacation – keeping an eye on pipes can alert you to any potential problems.

And, be sure to both drain and shut off your water altogether if you will not be at home during winter months.

Along with taking these precautions and utilizing a flood alarm system, consider the installation of a freeze alarm that alerts you in regard to any extremes in temperature. Freeze alarms may also have additional features that include sensors and notification should flood, water leaks, or power failure occur. In general, freeze alarms function by using sensors that indicate temperature extremes. If an extreme temperature is indicated, the alarms will notify you through a phone dial system, that this extreme has occurred.

Freeze alarm and temperature sensors are constructed so that they can work in conjunction with other home alarm systems and auto dialers. The systems range from simple alarm sounding to phone calls, texts, e-mails or paging systems for notification when your home temperature reaches whatever degree you’ve set for notification.

Temperature sensors can be either contact and non‑contact, measuring their own temperature or through the use of thermal radiant indicators received from an outside source. When you purchase either type of device, check the temperature range that the sensors work with, and whether or not you can customize the trigger temperature setting. Some sensors are better for indoor rather than outdoor use, so check durability as well.

Temperature sensors detect temperature extremes and prevent damage from extreme conditions ranging from pipe leaks and flooding to multiple other cold or heat induced potential home damage. Consider adding a temperature security system to your home security arsenal today.