October 2021: Topics include Leak Protection, water damage, COVID-19, & wellness rules overview.

Water damage is the leading cause of property claims in the MJ Sorority insurance program, accounting for 55% of all reported claims. From frozen or burst pipes to leaking appliances and sewer backups, water can be one of the most disruptive and expensive property issues. Even with highly comprehensive insurance coverage, things like member experience will inevitably be affected.

The best defense is a proactive one. That’s why we strongly encourage property managers and house corporations to take preventative steps by installing a comprehensive leak detection system. These systems are not only an effective way to avoid costly damage but installing leak detection and flow monitors could also make your property eligible for a credit at renewal. Contact your Client Executive for more information.

What Does a Leak Detection System Include?

A comprehensive leak protection setup typically involves:

1. Smart Water Sensors

These devices serve as the frontline defense against water damage by detecting moisture and leaks throughout the property. Strategically placed sensors can promptly alert housing corporations and property managers via mobile notifications upon detecting any signs of leakage.

Recommended sensor locations:

Have your plumber help determine the ideal number and placement of sensors for your chapter house. It may take some experimentation to determine where these should be placed to detect the unusual presence of water. It is imperative to work with a house director who is familiar with the usual patterns of water usage and presence, as well as the history of a property’s water damage or usual problem areas.

2. Flow-Based Leak Detection and Automatic Shut-Off Device

Installed by a plumber on the main water line, the flow meter does exactly what its name indicates: it monitors water flow throughout the house. By monitoring water flow within the chapter house, these devices can identify abnormal patterns indicative of leaks. They can be integrated with plumbing systems to provide real-time alerts in case of leaks, and some models offer insights into water usage for efficient conservation.

If this flow meter detects any unusual pattern in water use, the automatic shuts off then shuts down the flow of water. These devices offer companion apps and/or text alerts that help keep your property management and other house corporation officials informed in real time, which can be especially helpful when members are not living in the house during school breaks. These devices also allow the user to customize the threshold for water flow based on the time of year and even the time of day, helping you manage usual vs. unusual water use. These devices offer an added layer of protection to moisture sensors that cannot detect hidden leaks inside walls or under the foundation.

3. Freeze sensors: These monitor temperature and alert you if it drops low enough to risk freezing pipes (typically around 45°F or 7°C). You may consider them for both sprinkler and domestic pipes. Use of these sensors is risk dependent and you should consider your location when determining the necessity of a freeze sensor.

Why This Matters—Even With Insurance Coverage

While your property insurance policy offers broad water damage protection, dealing with a claim still means disruptions—member relocation, lost rental income, and potential reputational damage. Preventing water damage saves time, stress, and out-of-pocket expenses.

Even the best restoration can’t restore a seamless member experience. Prevention is always the better strategy.

Leak Detection Systems Are Worth the Investment

Business Partner Suggestions

We recommend reviewing products from:

Take Action Now

Don’t wait for a claim to find out how vulnerable your property is to water damage. Investing in leak detection technology now will protect your chapter house, reduce your risk, and earn you a property insurance premium credit at renewal.

For further reading on preventing water damage, refer to our printable infographic or this resource for additional tips. For further information on water damage claims for the MJ Sorority book of business, refer to this infographic.

In the event of flooding or a higher-than-normal water table due to heavy rains, sewage could back up through floor drains or plumbing fixtures located in a basement or lower level. When rising storm waters are expected, it is vitally important to establish a watch system to monitor your property drainage system to quickly identify and address any issues such as back-up, flooding, etc. Being prepared and responding quickly often minimizes the damage potential. The following are some methods to help minimize sewer backup into a building.

If sewage starts to back up into a home or business from the floor drains, it is possible to plug these drains. Floor drains are often at the lowest point in your facility and, as a result, may be the first entry point for sewage backup. Rubber or wooden plugs, purchased at many hardware stores, may be used to close off drains during heavy rains. If plugs are used, mark them prominently if they protrude beyond the floor level so they don’t become a tripping hazard.

After plugging floor drains, if the sewer water level becomes high enough, it may fill and overflow other plumbing fixtures located in the basement or lower level. Plug these drain openings with stoppers or plugs. A string mop can be used to help plug toilet openings. Be aware that ceramic plumbing fixtures such as toilets may be fragile.

Plugging of drains or fixtures should only be done where the condition of the sewer piping below the floor is considered to be strong and tight. Otherwise, heavy rainstorms or flooding may cause a build-up of water pressure within the house or business’ sewer system great enough to rupture pipe joints or damage basement floors.

Some properties may have backwater valves installed on sewer lines. Some are manually closed gate valves, while others are automatic check valves.

Remember that while the valve is closed and protecting your home or business from sewage backup, normal sewage flow from the building to the sanitary sewer is also cut off. This means that plumbing fixtures cannot be used unless a pump bypass is provided.

Many towns also have a comprehensive website with information and advice regarding prevention techniques. You should also refer to your local municipality for assistance.

Leak detection devices are a great way to prevent a sewer backup from doing more significant damage. Click here for further reading.

We have seen a dramatic increase in claims arising out of frozen pipes over the last two years. Frozen pipes can present an invisible threat – one that you might not recognize until the weather starts to warm. By then, the water damage can be significant and costly. Fortunately, keeping your home warmer, at a consistent temperature, and better insulated can help protect your pipes from freezing this winter.

Which Pipes Are Most at Risk?

Pipes that are most exposed to the elements, including those outdoors and along the exterior walls of your home, likely need extra protection during winter months. These include the following:

Before winter:

During winter:

Why is a Frozen Pipe a Concern?

When water begins to freeze, it expands. This can cause both plastic and metal pipes to burst, possibly leading to significant water damage to your home.

What Do You Do if You Have a Frozen Pipe?

How to Help Prevent Frozen Pipes
We have created a printable infographic with these reminders for your use.

In addition, make sure you complete MJ’s Winter Weather Checklist prior to the onset of winter weather. More detailed tips to manage the risk of frozen pipes is available here.

September 2021: Topics include COVID-19 (claims), fall semester, operating in the new normal, severe weather & crisis management.

Event Planning: All About Contracts – Ruth and Allison are back to discuss the ins and outs about insurance contracts: what are contracts, why are they important, what to look for when dealing with contracts, and why all of this matters to our clients.

Property Basics – In this episode, Allison and Sara discuss the basics of the property coverage. Even if your chapter doesn’t have chapter house, there is still plenty of useful information for all chapter members in this episode.

August 2021: Topics include COVID-19, fall semester, biometric risks, severe weather & transportation risks.

Updated COVID-19 guidance for sorority chapters and house corporations as we begin the Fall 2021 academic year.

When we think of making campus facilities more secure, we often chink of high-tech or expensive solutions such as using the latest in communication systems or installing an extensive network of surveillance cameras. Although these efforts do deter crime and arc worth the expense, says Denise Swen, dean of Middlefield Campus at Foothill College in California, many of the efforts to make campus facilities more secure are relatively low cost and low tech.

During her recent online seminar “Including Safety and Security in Campus Facilities Planning,” Swett outlined how to make new and existing facilities more resistant to crime, including the following low-tech options:

Faculty and student training

Students have long been experts at circumventing the safety and security hardware that campuses install in residence halls, Swett noted. They prop doors open, ignore alarms, and lend one another their IDs and/or security swipe cards. As a result, training is key in making the most of equipment.

On Swen’s campus, trainers conduct five-minute meetings in classrooms. The training focuses on the positives of staying safe, rather than on scaring students with potential dangers. (Swen said she is happy to share the script her campus uses in these five-minute classroom appearances. Please email her at swettdenise@jhda.edu to request a copy.)

Landscaping

Something as seemingly simple as landscaping can impact facilities security, Swett noted. A bougainvillea border underneath a bank of windows, for example, serves a security function. The flowering shrub’s tangle of thorns deters potential criminals from accessing the building through the windows. Low-to-the-ground hedges and trees with their lower branches pruned away also enhance security: they keep windows from being obscured and don’t afford potential criminals places to hide.

Landscaping that offers full outdoor view~ also deters potential criminals. On Swett ‘s campus, for example, a grouping of tables in an outdoor spot affords a view in all directions, making it harder for a potential criminal to surprise anyone sitting there or commit a crime without being observed by someone else in the area. In contrast, another campus has a path winding through a garden of tall bamboo plants: although the garden is lovely, people on the path cannot see other people there until they’re in very close range.

Maintenance

Well-maintained campuses send the message “We don’t want you here” to potential criminals, Swett said. In contrast, poor maintenance sends the message, accurately or not, that the campus is “unsecured, ignored, and overlooked”- in other words, a good place to get away with crime.

Signage

Clear, well-designed signage can also deter crime. Signs should be easy to read at night and should not use confusing jargon or acronyms. Campus maps that are current and note the locations of emergency call boxes are helpful to both potential crime victims and first responders.

Addressing windows and doors

Among the top safety modifications included in the report released after the Virginia Tech shootings in 2006 were recommendations to install the following:

• solid doors

• window coverings

• doors without handle~ or bars that can be chained together

Swett noted that among the students locked into classrooms for safety reasons during the Virginia Tech shooting, all survived. Having a solid door, or at least a door with windows that can be covered by curtains or a shade, increases the safety of being locked into a room because an assailant can’t see if anyone’s inside.

Many double door sets can be chained together by an attacker because each door has a handle. If such doors can’t be replaced, at least one of the handles can be removed as an alternate solution, Swett said.

Which approaches should your campus take?

To determine the deterrents that will work for your campus, Swett recommended the following steps: