Winter causes more damage to Church buildings than the other seasons, according to Ron Waters, director of the Albany diocesan Insurance Office. "It's a busy time of year for us," he said.
The chief concerns during the winter months, he said, are ice damage to roofs and frozen pipes. "Snow doesn't mean a lot," he noted. "As a general rule, there are more problems with ice build-up. Ice is more of a concern than everything else."
When ice sits on a roof, it can cause drainage pipes to become blocked, which prevents water from draining. That can cause leaks that damage the roof. His office encourages parishes to check their buildings on a regular basis for ice build-up.
In addition, parish buildings that aren't used daily are at risk for frozen pipes. Ice in parking lots is another concern. "We're concerned about fall-downs," he said. "With elderly parishioners, all you need is ice" to cause accidents. (MM)