Be Winter Ready – Tips for preventing burst pipes
As winter approaches, it is inevitable that we will experience periods of sub-zero temperatures. During these times your property will be at risk from frozen pipes and subsequent damage caused by escaping water.
In February and March 2018 extreme cold weather known as the “Beast from the East”, along with Storm Emma brought temperatures as low as -14C in some parts of the country and accounted for £193 million of domestic weather-related escape of water claims.
Escaping water can cause catastrophic damage to your home and to your precious belongings. The consequences can be personally devastating and cause significant inconvenience to you, the property owner.
There are a number of simple measures you can take to help prevent frozen pipes over the winter months such as:
- Insulate water tanks and lag pipes
- Fix dripping taps
- Know where your home’s internal stopcock is and make sure you can turn it off if necessary Check your boiler has been serviced.
- If you have tanks or pipes in the roof space, open the loft hatch to allow warm air to circulate.
- If you are away, even if only overnight, leave the heating on continuous on a lower heat setting and get a friend or neighbour to check the property regularly.
- If a property is going to be unoccupied for long periods, turn off the water at the stopcock and consider draining down the system so there is no water left in the pipes
Important: – Your Insurance Policy contains conditions that will apply to you and your property whilst it is left without an occupant for a period of time. Take time to read your Policy Wording and any applicable endorsements to ensure that you are aware of your obligations to maintain full coverage.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
