Ways to Pay Your Association Assessment

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If water freezes within a pipe, it will expand and crack the pipe, causing damage to your unit and anyone below you.

Water expanding into ice within a pipe can cause an increase in water pressure. This blockage can create excessive pressure throughout the system and cause pipe failure in vulnerable places. Generally, water pipes in outside walls are typically the most vulnerable to a potential frozen pipe emergency.

Reducing the Risk of a Frozen Pipe Disaster:

• Know where the water shut-off is located for your unit.
• Maintain a warm temperature in your unit at least above 60 degrees even if you are not home.
• If a sink, bathtub, or shower is on an exterior wall, letting it drip during extreme cold weather can prevent a pipe from bursting.
• If cabinets enclose plumbing pipes on an exterior wall, i.e. kitchen cabinets under the sink, open the cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
• If you currently notice slower water flow and suspect frozen pipes, you should call a plumber immediately. Often times issues like this can be resolved before any damage occurs. 

What You Should Do if a Domestic Pipe Freezes and Water Is Leaking:

1. IMMEDIATELY turn off the water inside your unit.
2. Open the faucets to drain the water out of the pipe.

What Should You Do if the Leak Did Not Stop After You’ve Done the Above #1 and #2:

1. Knock on the neighbor(s) door(s) and ask them to do #1 & #2.

*If the neighbor(s) are not home, call management and provide the exact address of the unit you are referring to. Management will make every effort to contact the resident if at all possible. In the meantime, contain the water as much as possible to prevent further property damage and call a plumber.

*FYI: The fire sprinkler system is on a completely separate water line from the domestic pipes. The domestic pipes and the sprinkler pipes are on different water sources. If these pipes freeze, the Fire Department will shut down the system.

Dominion Station Condominium Association Board

Effective October 31, 2019, Preferred Insurance Services provides the Master Property and Casualty Insurance Program for the Dominion Station Condominium Unit Owners Association.

As residents, you should be aware that the Master Insurance Program does not satisfy all of your insurance needs. You should consider purchasing personal insurance to fully protect your interest.

Inform Your Ho-6 Carrier That There Are Two Deductibles for the Master Policy:

1. $25,000: Building coverage under the Master Policy is subject to a $25,000 general deductible per occurrence.
2. $50,000: FROZEN FIRE SPRINKLER PIPE: If a fire sprinkler pipe freezes inside your unit because the unit was vacant, the heat was not turned on, or the unit was not heated (throughout) properly to a minimum of 60 degrees, the deductible for this loss is $50,000 deductible per occurrence.

The Master Policy will cover claims only when the damage caused by any one occurrence exceeds $25,000 OR $50,000. Reminder: During freezing temperatures, ALL rooms should be heated properly. Do not close interior doors or close heat ducts.

Master Policy Coverage and Personal Insurance Responsibilities

Building coverage under the Master Policy is written on a single entity basis, which means coverage does extend within individual units to fixtures, appliances, wall and floor coverings, and cabinetry according to the original plans and specifications.

The Master Policy does not cover any individual unit improvements, betterments, additions, or alterations made subsequent to conveyance from the developer.

For example, if kitchen appliances or bathroom fixtures have been upgraded in your unit, the Master Policy does not cover these improvements or betterments. If the wallpaper has been installed or a new wall constructed to divide a room, these additions and alterations are not covered by the Master Policy.

In addition to improvements, betterments, additions, and alterations, the Master Policy does not provide coverage for your personal property or additional living expenses.

Coverage is provided under the Master Policy to protect unit owners against liability claims arising out of membership in the Association.

For example, if somebody slips and falls on the common elements, the Master Policy will indemnify and defend all unit owners against a liability claim for bodily injury that might result.

However, if anybody slips and falls or otherwise sustains bodily injury within an individual unit, the Master Policy liability coverage will not apply.

Should you inadvertently leave the water running in your kitchen sink allowing water to overflow, the Master Policy will not protect you against the claim from the resident in the unit below for damage to their personal property or the expensive wallpaper they installed.

Resident Owners should purchase an individual homeowners’ policy (HO-6). The HO-6 policy can provide coverage for your personal property, unit improvements, betterments, additions and alterations, additional living expenses, and personal liability.

Coverage can be arranged under some HO-6 policies to pay for damages to your unit over your personal policy deductible, usually $100 or $250, up to the $25,000 or $50,000 Master Policy deductible.

Unit owners should check with their HO-6 policy agent or company to determine if their policy covers damage to their unit up to the Master Policy deductible.

Non-Resident Owners may not need coverage for personal property or additional living expenses; however, do have all of the other insurable exposures of a resident owner. Additionally, non-resident owners have exposure to loss of rental income, which can be insured against.

Renters should purchase a HO-4 policy to provide coverage for personal property, additional living expenses, and personal liability.

To complete your insurance coverage, owners and renters need to purchase a personal insurance policy. A qualified insurance agent can specifically design your personal policy coverage to fit your individual needs and properly complement the Master Policy coverage.