Insurance News

Is a cold snap around the corner? - Winter 2011

In the same way you might think about putting the anti-freeze in your car, now is the time to think about preventing your central heating and water pipes from freezing. It doesn't happen often these days, but even a short period of time without the heating on can cause the pipes to get cold enough to freeze.

The results of frozen pipes are not worth thinking about. It often happens when people are away on holiday when they have turned their heating off. This means that water can be continuously running from the broken pipe for hours or even days. This can result in ruined floors, ceilings and furniture.

The problem is caused by water in the pipes freezing. This causes the water to expand and put pressure on the pipes and joints. The can result in cracks and splits in the pipework. Over the past few years the average amount of damage from this type of incident is £1200 according to one insurer, a significant amount to have to pay if you do not have correct cover in place. Insurance companies have been told this year that damage caused by frozen and burst pipes could top £650 million this winter, more than £7 million per day!

Here are some helpful hints:

• Be aware of the location of your stopcock and check it is easy to turn off every now and then.
• Keep your heating ticking over on a low setting, especially when you are away.
• Insulate pipes around particularly cold spots, taking extra care near joints and corners.
• If you are away, leave a key with neighbours and ask them to check your house regularly.
• Draining your system might be the best idea if you are going to be away for a long period of time. You can do this by turning off the water and running the taps until the tank runs dry.
• Have a plumber check your central heating system regularly.
• Check your insurance is up to date and note that some insurers may not pay out if the water escape is down to wear and tear.
• If the worst should happen, turn off all the water and call your insurer. Obviously prevention is better than cure, so follow the advice above and you should avoid any major water damage.