THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013
LAWRENCE
PAGE 3A
Keep heat on while away to avoid pipe bursts
TOM QUINLAN
Imagine coming home from winter break only to find your house or apartment completely flooded. If students aren't careful this could be a very real possibility.
tquinlan@kansan.com
A student who turns off the heat while away over the break risks major damage to their residence. With no heat, the temperature in an apartment or house can dip below freezing.
At such low temperatures the water inside pipes freezes and expands. The expansion of ice ruptures the pipes causing flooding. This can easily be avoided if students simply remember to keep their heat on while they are away.
Austin Enns, a second-year law student from Hutchinson, knows the frustration of ruptured plumbing.
"I've had pipes explode on me before. Yeah, it's terrible," Enns said. Enns explained he had a pipe in a dishwasher burst during a snowstorm but his roommate managed to repair it quickly to avoid major damage.
Owner of Vito's Plumbing, Mike Capra, explained that this kind
of damage can easily run into the thousands of dollars. He recalled a house that sustained $85,000 dollars in damage after having a pipe burst while the occupants were on vacation. According to Capra it can take a week to clean up the damage before a person can move back into their apartment or house.
Taylor Hahn, assistant property manager of Campus Court at Naismith, said broken pipes aren't very common occurrence as residents are reminded to keep their heat on while they are away.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
Hahn explained that most lease agreements include terms requiring tenants to keep the heat at a minimal level during winter months. While different tenants have different lease agreements, residents are generally required to keep their apartments at 55 to 60 degrees. Hahn added that if a tenant has a pipe burst, they are responsible for damage that may occur to their neighbors' apartments. Capra cautioned that if students forget to keep their heat on, they should be prepared for the damage. "If they shut it off, get ready."
"If they shut it off, get ready," Capra said.
Edited by Sarah Kramer
By turning off the heat over long periods of time, the homeowner risks the major damage of pipes rupturing due to freezing temperatures.
CAMPUS
Prepare dorms, apartments for winter break
KAITLYN KLEIN
kklein@kansan.com
KU Student Housing will use the extra time that students are away to maintain and deep clean facilities.
Though students will get to enjoy a month free from the stress of campus life and classes, the University won't shut down while students are away.
Templin's ARC was updated last
Doug Carter, associate director of operations for KU Student Housing, said in addition to routine preventative maintenance and cleaning, Lewis Hall's Academic Resource Center will be upgraded.
summer and Ellsworth Hall will receive an update in summer 2014.
"Winter break, summer break, spring break are all windows of opportunity we have to do small projects and to do some preventative maintenance work," Carter said.
Student Housing facilities will also go through a safety check this winter. Students who live in student housing are given a checklist of how their rooms must be left over the extended break. Some of those items can also be applicable to students who live off campus.
Edited by Ashleigh Tidwell
Dorm Winter Break Checklist
Take everything you need for break (dorms are locked during the break)
locked during the break)
Close and latch windows tightly
Leave window blinds down with the slats open
Remove trash
Unplug all electrical items
- Turn thermostats or blowers to low
Turn lights off
Apartment Checklist
Close and lock doors
— Residence Hall Vacation Safety Check form
(provided by KU Student Housing)
Turn off (and unplug) electronics
Clear fridge of perishable foods
Take out the trash
Lower thermostat, but keep above 55 degrees
Set lights on timer (or turn off)
Close and lock windows and doors
Check your mail one last time before you leave
Do NOT leave a spare key hidden outside
Store your valuables in a safe place
Store your valuables in a safe place
Modified from Travelers Insurance's Vacation Checklist
Enjoy Stop Day and good luck on finals, Jayhawks! If you are looking for especially good study spaces during finals week, Anschutz Library and the Union are two of the best.
POLICE REPORTS
Information based on the Douglas County Sheriff's Office booking recap.
- A 25-year-old male was arrested yesterday on the 1200 block of 23rd Street on suspicion of violating a protective order, criminal threat and interfering with the duties of an officer. A $7,500 bond was paid.
- A 25-year-old female was arrested yesterday on the 600 block of Mississippi Street on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence, second offense, and no insurance. A $1,100 bond was paid.
Emily Donovan
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